Kim Jong Un calls for increase in North Korea's nuclear arsenal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an increase in its nuclear arsenal and the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles to counter US-led threats. 

State television, KRT, aired a meeting of the ruling Workers' party, where Kim highlighted the need to secure "overwhelming military power" to defend its sovereignty and security.

Kim accused Washington and Seoul of trying to "isolate and stifle" Pyongyang with US nuclear strike assets constantly deployed in South Korea, calling it "unprecedented in human history".

• North Korea test fires ballistic missile capable of reaching Japan
• North Korea fire missile with ability to strike 'entire mainland United States'
• North Korea fires 'more than 10' ballistic missiles hours after threatening US

KCNA New agency also reported that the leader vowed to develop another intercontinental ballistic missile system –  "whose main mission is quick nuclear counter-strike" – under a plan to bolster the country's nuclear force.

This comes as tension between North Korea and South Korea continue to rise.

Earlier in the week the North flew drones into the South and just hours before the meeting, in a New Year's Day weapons test, a short-range ballistic missile was fired off the North's east coast.

Japan's coast guard said the missile reached an altitude of around 100km and flew around 350km.

2022 saw a record number of test missiles being fired in North Korea.