North Korea leader Kim Jong-un says he doesn’t care about Donald Trump’s warning as he reveals he’ll carry on building deadly nuclear weapons
PUNCHY North Korea has vowed to carry on with its rapidly expanding nuclear weapons programme - despite mounting pressure from the US and Donald Trump.
Kim Jong-un's rogue state said it will stick to its dual pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic growth ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect later this week.
It made it clear it will continue to develop nuclear weapons in tandem with boosting the country's moribund economy, commonly known as the 'byeongjin' policy, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"By firmly sticking to the policy, we will soar as a great political, military and economic power," the state- run news agency said.
The threat comes after it was revealed Kim's military will have nuclear warheads capable of striking US territory within a YEAR.
Since taking power the North Korean dictator has dramatically increased his country’s nuclear weapons programme.
According to , his Musudan missiles - with a range of 3,500 miles - will be ready within a year.
The US has announced it will deploy its state-of-the-art THAAD advanced missile defence system in South Korea in eight to 10 months to combat the threat from the North.
Trump has vowed to tackle the North Korean 'problem' once in power.
“North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the US It won’t happen!” Trump last month.
It was not clear what Trump meant: whether he believed North Korea was incapable of developing a reliable ICBM, or that the US would prevent it doing so.
The rogue state caused international uproar after it conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and fifth in September in defiance of furious international reaction and stiff sanctions.
The North's hardline message comes as a new US administration to be led by Trump will take office on Friday.
North Korea's leader said in his New Year's message that his country has entered the final stage of its preparations to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Trump's pick for defence secretary James Mattis told at his confirmation hearing on Jan. 12 that as the North's nuclear and missile development is "a serious threat," the US should "do something about it."
North Korea has long claimed that it is developing nuclear weapons as a deterrent against what it calls Washington's hostile policy towards Pyongyang.
"North Korea is sending messages (to the US in various ways) in a bid to put pressure on the US to shift its policy toward North Korea," said an official at Seoul's unification ministry.