North Korea Vice Defense Minister Defends Nuclear Arsenal at Beijing Security Forum

North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il used a Chinese defense forum to publicly justify Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, framing it as a necessary deterrent. This marks a rare high-level public articulation of the nuclear stance at a multilateral venue, signaling continued alignment with China despite international pressure. The move reinforces North Korea's commitment to its nuclear path and may complicate denuclearization diplomacy.