North Korea announced on Saturday its intention to strengthen its defense capabilities, accusing the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In a statement released by the state news agency KCNA, an unnamed spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry stated that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) would “further intensify its practical efforts to deter the military threat of the hostile forces and maintain the balance of forces in the region.”

The spokesperson alleged that Washington and Seoul have carried out over 20 military exercises this year, which Pyongyang perceives as preparations for war. “The DPRK has no option but to thoroughly deter the danger of outbreak of a nuclear war,” the spokesperson added.

The comments follow North Korea's test of a powerful new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday. Dubbed the Hwasong-19, the missile launch demonstrated an unprecedented reach, with a flight path that soared higher than any previous North Korean missile before descending into the ocean between Japan and Russia, according to both North Korean authorities and tracking data from South Korea and Japan.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, responded to recent criticism from the United Nations Secretary-General, who had condemned North Korea’s missile activities. Kim defended North Korea's weapons testing as a matter of “self-defense,” countering international condemnation following the DPRK’s decision to send military support to Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The launch drew strong rebukes from Washington and its allies, including South Korea, Japan, and several European nations. In a show of military strength, South Korean and U.S. air forces conducted joint live-fire attack drills on Friday. The exercises marked the first time Global Hawk and Reaper drones were used in the region to drop GPS-guided munitions on simulated enemy targets, the South Korean Air Force reported.

Tensions remain high as North Korea signals its intention to continue its military buildup, citing the need to counter what it perceives as aggressive moves by the U.S. and South Korea.