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North Korea Vows to Continue Military Buildup to Repel Possible Invasion

© AP Photo / Wong Maye-E, FileIn this Saturday, April 15, 2017, file photo, a North Korean national flag flutters as soldiers in tanks salute to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of the current ruler
In this Saturday, April 15, 2017, file photo, a North Korean national flag flutters as soldiers in tanks salute to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of the current ruler - Sputnik International
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TOKYO (Sputnik) - North Korea will continue increasing its military capabilities in the face of persisting risks to its sovereignty, the nation's leader, Kim Jong-un, said in a statement published by state media.

"We have to always keep in mind that peace can be ensured only by powerful military capabilities, and firmly maintain the principle of self-defence and keep increasing the defence capabilities of the country", he said, as quoted by the KCNA news agency.

Kim called North Korea's military independence "a powerful treasured sword for defending the sovereignty", warning that the climate of peace in the Korean peninsula might not last.

READ MORE: Trump, Moon Discuss Establishing Post-Hanoi ‘Way Forward' With N Korea — WH

"The climate of peace that began settling in the Korean peninsula is not durable and the hostile forces' attempt at invasion of the DPRK has not gone", he said, using an acronym for North Korea.

In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber, center, flies over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean fighter jets F-16, F-15K and U.S. fighter jets F-35A, F35B during their combined aerial exercise Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. The United States flew a B-1B supersonic bomber over South Korea on Wednesday as part of a massive combined aerial exercise involving hundreds of warplanes, a clear warning after North Korea last week tested its biggest and most powerful missile yet. - Sputnik International
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The statement comes after US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in held talks in Washington, confirming that both nations aim to achieve "fully verified denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and establishing a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula". At the same time, Trump claimed that Seoul agreed to purchase a significant amount of US military equipment, including jet fighters and missiles.

Previously, Pyongyang has repeatedly accused the United States and its allies of plotting to invade the North. In a major detente last year, US President Donald Trump said he would downsize joint drills with South Korea but his second talks with Kim on denuclearisation broke down in February.

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