North Korea says U.S.-led arms buildup justifies expanding nuclear force

North Korea’s vice defense minister said on Thursday that a growing U.S.-led military buildup and what he called an expanding nuclear alliance among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo justified Pyongyang’s efforts to strengthen and expand its nuclear forces. Speaking at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s flagship international security conference, Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il said North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state was irreversible and pledged to continue expanding its nuclear arsenal.