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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed an acceleration of the country’s war preparations, citing “unprecedented” confrontational actions by the United States.

These statements were delivered during the Workers’ Party of Korea’s (WPK) annual meeting, a pivotal event where officials evaluate the past year and set policy goals for the upcoming one. Kim’s comments align with North Korea’s consistently sharp rhetoric against perceived threats from the US and its allies, including South Korea and Japan, accusing them of provocative military activities.

In his address, Kim detailed “militant tasks” for the nation’s armed forces, munitions industry, and nuclear and civil defense sectors, aiming to “further accelerate the war preparations,” as per the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He framed these directives against the backdrop of a “grave political and military situation” on the Korean peninsula, which he attributes to the “anti-DPRK confrontation moves of the US and its vassal forces,” marking an unprecedented level in history. Additionally, Kim outlined plans for North Korea to bolster its “strategic cooperation” with nations opposing imperialism, urging an expansion of relationships with these countries and an intensified global anti-imperialist campaign.

The White House has recently responded to North Korea’s escalating rhetoric and actions, saying that any “nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime.” They added the US has an “unwavering commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK, backed by the full range of US capabilities including nuclear.”