Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a bylined article. It goes on:

The Workers' Party of Korea set forth the line on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and building of nuclear force. This is essentially required by the prevailing situation where the destiny of the nation is seriously threatened and a stumbling block is lying in the way of national reunification due to the U.S. and other hostile forces' extreme "sanctions" racket and moves for a nuclear war against the DPRK.

The DPRK has built powerful nuclear deterrent, weathering all difficulties, in order to cope with the U.S. escalating nuclear threat. This was a very just option to shatter the U.S. vicious aggression moves and racket against national reunification and pave a wide avenue for hewing out the independent destiny.

An access to powerful war deterrent provides a sure guarantee for defending the sovereignty of the nation in the present world under the reign of the law of jungle.

The sovereignty and supreme interests of the DPRK are now facing a grave challenge. The Korean Peninsula will be engulfed in the flames of a nuclear war in a moment if the DPRK acts like those countries in the Balkans and Middle East which fell victim to aggression after abandoning war deterrent while reading faces of big powers.

If one is strong, one has nothing to fear in face of any formidable enemy and one can surely meet one's demand and interests under any situation and circumstances.

The powerful nuclear deterrent of the DPRK serves as matchless strength to firmly defend the destiny and dignity of the nation from outsiders' interference and aggression and meet all challenges of anti-reunification forces and a precious treasure of the nation which can never be bartered for anything.