New York: North Korea used the United Nations General Assembly on September 28 to criticize Japan’s expanding security capabilities and defend its own nuclear policy, highlighting continuing tensions in Northeast Asia.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong told the UN General Debate that Pyongyang views the growing security cooperation among the United States, South Korea and Japan as a threat to regional stability. He also described North Korea’s nuclear deterrent as essential to protecting its sovereignty and security.

Japan Becomes a Major Focus

North Korea’s remarks included criticism of Japan’s changing defense posture. Pyongyang has repeatedly objected to Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and develop longer-range strike options.

Earlier this month, North Korean state media also criticized Japan’s participation in joint military exercises with the United States and other partners, particularly pointing to the deployment of the US Typhon missile system in Japan.

Pyongyang Defends Nuclear Deterrent

During the UN address, Kim said North Korea considers its nuclear capability a defensive tool against what it describes as external threats.

North Korea has maintained that its nuclear status cannot be reversed. The country’s foreign ministry reiterated the position on September 29, while also accusing Washington of contributing to instability in the international nuclear order.

The United States, South Korea and Japan have maintained a different position, calling for the denuclearization of North Korea and implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Regional Military Cooperation Under Scrutiny

Security cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo has expanded in response to concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

Pyongyang views this cooperation as evidence of an increasingly coordinated military environment around the Korean Peninsula. The three countries, however, describe their cooperation in terms of regional security and responding to North Korean military activities.

Japan has also raised concerns about North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, describing them as a serious challenge to international security.

UN Speech Maintains a Relatively Measured Tone

Although the North Korean statement contained strong criticism of Japan and its other regional rivals, the speech did not include a direct threat of immediate military action.

The remarks instead emphasized sovereignty, self-reliance, multilateralism and North Korea’s stated determination to maintain its security capabilities.

The relatively restrained tone comes amid continuing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, including recent missile activity and disagreements over nuclear policy.

Wider Security Implications

The dispute between North Korea, Japan, South Korea and the United States remains part of a broader security debate in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan’s defense policies, South Korea’s security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, North Korea’s nuclear program and US military deployments in the region are closely interconnected issues.

The latest UN exchange therefore underscores the continuing diplomatic divide over how security should be maintained in Northeast Asia and whether negotiations can reduce tensions surrounding North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.