North Korean leader reaffirms arms buildup in party meeting

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has doubled down on his arms buildup in the face of what he describes as an aggravating security environment. Kim concluded a major political conference Friday while outside governments monitor signs of a possibly imminent North Korean nuclear test explosion. Kim’s comments didn’t include any direct criticism of the United States or rival South Korea while nuclear diplomacy remains deadlocked. The meeting came amid a provocative streak in missile demonstrations aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power. Kim during the meeting promoted Choe Sun Hui, a veteran diplomat with deep experience in handling U.S. affairs, as his new foreign minister.