The United States says it is still open to holding talks with North Korea despite recent nuclear ‘provocations’

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has made a renewed pledge to speed up his nation’s nuclear programme during a military parade which showcased new intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The parade was held to celebrate the 90th birthday of the country’s armed forces, as denuclearisation talks with the US stall.

Both the U-S and South Korea say there are signs of construction at North Korea’s known nuclear test site, which had been out of operation since 2018.

Speaking to his constituents, Kim Jong Un says “the nuclear forces of the Republic should be fully prepared to fulfil their responsible mission, at any time,”.

The leader says the fundamental mission of the programme remains deterrence, but its use “can never be confined to a single mission”.

Some experts believe Kim’s remarks may have been aimed at the incoming government of South Korea, with the president-elect previously warning of pre-emptive strikes if an attack seems likely.