North Korea vows to keep expanding nuclear arsenal

North Korea reportedly said it will continue strengthening its nuclear arsenal, accusing Washington of pursuing a "hostile policy" through denuclearization demands, human-rights criticism, and joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan. Pyongyang described its nuclear weapons as an "absolute guarantee" of national sovereignty, declaring that neither its nuclear status nor its posture toward the United States will change. The statement comes amid ongoing tension over North Korea's weapons programs and repeated U.S.-led calls for denuclearization talks. Pyongyang has increasingly framed its arsenal as non-negotiable, rejecting international pressure and criticism of its human-rights record. The renewed rhetoric underscores the widening gap between Washington's demands and Pyongyang's stated intentions, raising fresh concerns about regional security in Northeast Asia and the prospects for any resumption of diplomatic engagement.