North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country must undertake a “rapid expansion” of its nuclear arsenal, calling ongoing U.S.–South Korea military exercises an “obvious expression of their will to provoke war,” according to state news agency KCNA. Kim’s remarks came as the allies began their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, an 11-day exercise that mobilises about 21,000 troops, including roughly 18,000 South Koreans, for computer-simulated command-post operations and field training. Washington and Seoul describe the drills as defensive, while Pyongyang has long denounced them as invasion rehearsals. KCNA said Kim delivered the warning on Monday during an inspection of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer at the western port of Nampo. He told naval officials that the vessel, designed to carry nuclear-capable missiles, underlines the need for North Korea to modernise its fleet and integrate nuclear weapons into maritime operations. The comments further dim prospects for renewed dialogue promoted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who last week offered to restore suspended inter-Korean military agreements. Analysts in Seoul noted that Pyongyang’s stance signals a continued refusal to consider denuclearisation talks even as regional tensions rise.