North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a swift expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal, denouncing ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea as a direct provocation, state-run KCNA reported Tuesday.

During a visit to a navy destroyer, Kim said the drills were “an obvious expression of their will to provoke war” and proof of Washington and Seoul’s hostility. He insisted North Korea must “rapidly expand” its nuclear capabilities in response to what he described as exercises with a “nuclear element.”

Analysts note the remarks reinforce Pyongyang’s refusal to consider denuclearisation, instead signalling an intent to make its nuclear arsenal irreversible. A Federation of American Scientists report last year estimated North Korea may have material for up to 90 nuclear warheads, though likely only about 50 are fully assembled.

The US and South Korea launched their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises this week, scheduled to last 11 days. While similar in scope to last year, 20 of the 40 planned field training drills were pushed to September, in line with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to reduce tensions.

Seoul and Washington maintain the drills are purely defensive, but Pyongyang routinely frames them as rehearsals for invasion, often responding with weapons tests.

North Korea’s growing nuclear ambitions are expected to dominate upcoming talks in Washington between President Donald Trump and South Korea’s President Lee. Trump has previously pledged to address the North Korean threat but faces skepticism after years of stalled diplomacy.

Alongside its nuclear program, North Korea is advancing conventional military projects. Plans are underway to build a third 5,000-tonne Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October 2026, and the country is testing new cruise and anti-air missiles for deployment on its warships.