Kim Jong Un announces the completion of the accelerated expansion program of the North Korean nuclear arsenal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that his country has completed a program aimed at increasing nuclear forces at an "exponential" rate, according to the official KCNA agency.

The statement was made on Wednesday during a visit to a recently inaugurated nuclear materials production facility. Kim stated that the production capacity of military-grade nuclear materials has doubled in the last five years, emphasizing the need to strengthen nuclear forces due to growing threats. North Korea, which withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993, has conducted six nuclear tests and numerous ballistic missile tests, some capable of reaching U.S. territory.

Pyongyang's military program has led to severe sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

In 2022, North Korea declared that its status as a nuclear power is irreversible, considering its nuclear arsenal as a guarantee against any attempt at invasion or regime change.