IRIA News

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country has deployed “special assets” to counter what he described as Washington’s growing military presence in South Korea, state media reported on September 5, 2025.

Speaking at a weapons exhibition in Pyongyang ahead of the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim accused the United States and its allies of “creating dangerous scenarios” through intensified military activities in the region.

“The U.S.–ROK nuclear alliance is making rapid progress, and they are conducting various kinds of exercises to execute dangerous scenarios,” Kim said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. “In direct proportion to the buildup of U.S. forces in Korea, our strategic interest in the region has also increased, and we have accordingly allocated special assets to key targets of interest.”

He added that the “enemy will have to worry about which direction their security environment is moving in,” without clarifying the nature of the “special assets.”

The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of a longstanding defense commitment. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea last month carried out joint military drills that North Korea condemned as a rehearsal for invasion. The allies insist the exercises are defensive and essential for maintaining regional deterrence against North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile programs.

Military Exhibition and Display of Weapons

Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim walking through an indoor exhibition hall, inspecting missiles and other advanced weaponry, accompanied by senior generals. During his address, Kim said Pyongyang would “undoubtedly develop additional military measures” to respond to what he called the “aggressive buildup” of U.S. and South Korean forces.

South Korean defense officials said the North continues to expand its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and may be preparing to unveil new weapons systems, including the long-range Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, during an upcoming military parade on October 10 marking the party’s founding anniversary.

Expanding Ties with Russia and China

North Korea has strengthened its military and political ties with Russia and China in recent months. According to South Korean intelligence reports, Pyongyang has supplied artillery and even personnel to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Kim recently attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to commemorate the end of the Second World War. Analysts say this growing trilateral alignment highlights Pyongyang’s effort to counterbalance U.S.-led alliances in East Asia.

Since the collapse of denuclearization talks with the U.S. in 2019, North Korea has declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state and rejected any possibility of relinquishing its atomic weapons. Kim met Trump three times during Trump’s first term, but the negotiations broke down in Hanoi over the extent of sanctions relief and nuclear concessions.

Last month, Kim said he remained open to dialogue with the United States and spoke of having “fond memories” of his meetings with Trump, though he made clear that denuclearization was not on the table.

Pyongyang remains under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs, which it has continued to develop in defiance of international resolutions. The latest remarks from Kim underscore a renewed focus on deterrence and an apparent readiness to escalate amid what he sees as a tightening U.S.-South Korea-Japan alliance.

Regional Implications

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen steadily as both sides expand their military readiness. The U.S. and South Korea have increased coordination under their “extended deterrence” framework, while North Korea has emphasized preemptive and retaliatory capabilities.

Kim’s reference to “special assets”, though left vague, is viewed by analysts as a signal that Pyongyang may deploy advanced missiles or strategic systems closer to the border or coastal areas, further heightening regional instability.

As Pyongyang prepares for next week’s anniversary parade, observers expect the event to showcase new military hardware and reinforce Kim’s message of defiance against the U.S. and its allies. The speech and display mark another step in North Korea’s ongoing shift from diplomatic outreach to overt military posturing.