Kim Jong-un says North Korea’s nuclear weapons will prevent future wars

He made the comments during a meeting with war veterans marking the 67th anniversary of the end of the Korean war

The remarks again shows he has no intention of abandoning his weapons as prospects dim for resuming diplomacy with the US

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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un. File photo: Korea News Service via AP

Published: 1:20pm, 28 Jul 2020Updated: 11:45pm, 28 Jul 2020

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un said nuclear weapons were a solid security guarantee of the country’s survival and a “reliable, effective” deterrent that could prevent another war.

He made the comments during a Monday meeting with war veterans marking the 67th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean war.

The remarks again showed he had no intention of abandoning his weapons as prospects dim for resuming diplomacy with the United States.

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: AFP

North Korea has previously ratcheted up fiery rhetoric or conducted weapons tests to wrest outside concessions. But some experts say Pyongyang would likely avoid serious talks with Washington before the US presidential elections in November, as there was a chance for a US leadership change.

Kim said in his speech on Monday his country had tried to become “a nuclear state” with “an absolute might” to prevent another war and that it has now built such a deterrent, according to the Korean Central News Agency.