Khaberni - The Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated he will focus on expanding the country's nuclear arsenal, and that the prospects for improving relations with the United States entirely depend on Washington's stance.
The agency mentioned that the ninth conference of the ruling Workers' Party of North Korea, which lasted a week, concluded with a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, on Wednesday.
It quoted Kim as saying that "the international stature of our country has remarkably risen" and that Pyongyang has set main political goals for the next five years.
He added, "Our party is determined to continue expanding and strengthening our national nuclear capabilities and to fully establish our status as a nuclear state... We will focus on projects to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand the scope of our operational nuclear capabilities."
Last year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimated that North Korea has about 50 warheads, and has enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more, noting that it is accelerating the pace of producing more of these materials.
The agency also said that Kim reviewed North Korea's plans to develop more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, including underwater-launched missiles and offensive systems using artificial intelligence, drones, and weapons capable of striking enemy satellites.
Kim left the door open for discussions with the United States, while indicating that North Korea still adopts "the most stringent stance" in its policy towards Washington.
The agency quoted Kim as saying, "If the United States abandons its policy of confrontation with North Korea and respects the current status of our country... there will be no reason preventing us from establishing good relations with it."
