North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits missile bases, slams US nuclear means

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited strategic missile bases and examined the readiness "for action of strategic deterrence" while calling the U.S. strategic nuclear capabilities as a threat, state media reported on Wednesday.

The U.S. strategic nuclear means pose an "ever-increasing threat" to North Korea's security environment and long-term threats demand Pyongyang's "thorough and strict" counteraction posture of its nuclear forces, he was quoted as saying by KCNA.

Kim also urged the modernization of the armed forces by giving priority to the strategic missile force in the future, calling it "an important principle of the strategy for building the national defence."

He was accompanied on his visit by Kim Yo Jong, his powerful sister and Kim Jong Sik, the first vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, KCNA reported.

KCNA did not say when the visits took place.



(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)