North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has appeared at an exhibition showing North Korea’s weapons arsenal, photos in local media show. Kim stood in front of a gigantic long-range missile, which was already shown during a military parade last year but has not yet been tested.
Kim was also seen smoking with other dignitaries. And there were large portraits of the dictator in military uniform in the exhibition hall.
The exhibit follows multiple missile tests by North Korea in recent weeks. For example, a hypersonic rocket was recently tested that travels five times faster than sound.
According to the North Korean leader, the increased military deployment is only necessary for self-defence, and the country is not out for war. The United States, in particular, is behaving hostile, according to Kim. According to him, that country is the main cause of the instability in the region.
Although President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly indicated that it wants diplomatic talks with North Korea, Kim does not believe Biden’s good intentions. “I am very curious if there are people or countries who believe that,” KCNA news agency quoted Kim as saying. Internationally isolated communist North Korea has been subjected to severe US sanctions for decades.