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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed that Pyongyang is ready to mobilize its nuclear war deterrent, warning that Seoul was pushing towards the verge of war.

During his speech at an event to mark the 69th anniversary of the July 27 Korean War armistice, Kim indicated that the confrontation with the United States posed nuclear threats since the 1950-53 war that required North Korea to achieve an "urgent historical task" of strengthening its self-defense.

He underlined that "Our armed forces are thoroughly prepared to respond to any crisis, and our nation's nuclear war deterrence is also fully ready to mobilize its absolute strength faithfully, accurately, and promptly to its mission."

Kim: Washington "demonizing" Pyongyang

The North Korean leader pointed out that Washington continues "dangerous, illegal hostile acts" with South Korea, and seeks to justify its behavior by "demonizing" the country.

He considered that "The duplex act of the United States, which is misleading all the routine actions of our armed forces as 'provocation' and 'threat' while holding large-scale joint military exercises that seriously threaten our security, is literally a robbery."

"That is driving bilateral relations to the point where it is difficult to turn back, into a state of conflict," he added.

S. Korea confrontational policy pushing situation to verge of war

In his speech, Kim criticized - for the first time - South Korea's new conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol by name, accusing him of threatening North Korea's security and right to self-defense.

Kim said that "warmongers" and "disgusting thugs" in Yoon's administration are determined to carry out confrontational military activities, adding that their "heinous confrontational policy" and "toadyish, treacherous acts" are pushing the situation to the verge of war.

It is noteworthy that in recent months, North Korea has tested hypersonic missiles and missiles that it says could carry tactical nuclear weapons.

Yoon's government, army will be "annihilated"

Yoon has pledged to complete the so-called "Kill Chain" system that calls for preventive strikes against North Korea's missiles and possibly its leadership in case of an attack.

The North Korean leader said that this system would never be able to cover Pyongyang's "absolute weapon."

Kim warned that "Such a dangerous attempt will immediately be punished by a powerful force, and Yoon Suk-yeol's government and his army will be annihilated."

His speech comes after South Korea and US officials claimed that North Korea has completed preparations to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.

South Korea's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that North Korea is likely to face stronger sanctions if it carries out the test.

Korean War armistice

North Korea celebrates the anniversary of the end of the Korean War and considers it a national holiday. The war on the Korean Peninsula broke out on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953.

A US-led coalition of 17 countries fought for South Korea against the North, and the war ended with the signing of the Armistice Agreement in the Demilitarized Zone between Seoul and Pyongyang.