North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on his country’s military for an “unlimited” expansion of its nuclear program to counter US-led threats, in comments reported Monday.

Kim delivered a speech to battalion commanders and political instructors on Friday, state media KCNA reported, adding that he urged the military to focus its efforts on completing war preparations.

“He earnestly called on all participants to make every effort to make substantial and fundamental improvements in improving their capabilities to wage real war,” KCNA said.

Kim criticized the United States for its updated nuclear strategies with South Korea and increased military cooperation with Japan, which he called an “Asian NATO” that is exacerbating regional tensions.

In September, Kim promised that the country would “exponentially” expand its nuclear arsenal in response to the “reckless expansion” of a U.S.-led regional military bloc.

He has often blamed the United States for increasing North Korea’s military arsenal.

North Korean troops in Russia

He also condemned U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, alleging that Washington and its allies were using Ukraine as “shock troops” to expand U.S. military influence.

The speech came weeks after Pyongyang deployed around 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia. Some of them are said to have engaged in fighting in Kursk, near the Ukrainian border, sparking international criticism.

Intensifying military cooperation between North Korea and Russia – also a rival of the United States – was consolidated in an agreement signed earlier in November.

mk/lo (AP, Reuters, DPA)