N. Korea warns of bolstering nuclear deterrent over US' new nuclear strategy

North Korea on Friday criticized the United States' new nuclear strategy under review as lowering the threshold for nuclear use, vowing to strengthen its "nuclear deterrent for self-defense." The criticism came amid reports that the Pentagon is drafting a new nuclear strategy focusing on the use of short-range tactical nuclear weapons in case of conflicts with China or Russia. "The U.S. moves for nuclear hegemony aimed at gaining the absolute superiority in strength has entered a new dangerous stage," showed a military commentator's article carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Citing an unnamed foreign media report and experts, North Korea claimed the U.S. administration was developing a new nuclear strategy centered on the expansion of its capability to launch an attack with tactical nuclear weapons in order to cope with potential regional disputes with China and Russia. "This shows that the U.S. nuclear strategy is offensively turning into the one for using nukes in real war from so-called one for deterrence," it added.

The commentator accused Washington of rapidly moderniz