North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made fresh threats of a nuclear attack on South Korea and ordered a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can "break out at any time" on the peninsula, state media reported.
Mr Kim lambasted the United States during a lengthy speech at the end of five days of year-end party meetings that set his country's military, political, and economic policy decisions for 2024.
The meeting announced plans for further military development in the coming year, including launching three more spy satellites, building unmanned drones and developing electronic warfare capabilities, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea this year successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution, and test-fired the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal.
At the meeting, Mr Kim accused the United States of posing "various types of military threat" and ordered his armed forces to maintain "overwhelming war response capability", according to KCNA.
It is a "fait accompli that a war can break out at any time on the Korean peninsula due to reckless moves by the enemies to invade us", Mr Kim said.
"We must respond quickly to a possible nuclear crisis and continue to accelerate preparations to pacify the entire territory of South Korea by mobilising all physical means and forces, including nuclear force, in case of emergency," Mr Kim added.
'Uncontrollable crisis situation'
At the meeting, Kim said he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, noting the "persisting uncontrollable crisis situation" which he said was triggered by South Korea and the US.
Inter-Korean relations have deteriorated to a low point this year, with North Korea's spy satellite launch prompting the South Korean government to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement aimed at defusing tensions.
Mr Kim ordered the drawing-up of measures for reorganising departments handling cross-border affairs, to "fundamentally shift the direction".
North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nukes programme, which the regime views as essential for its survival.
The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006.
