North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly boasted about the "absolute might" of his country's nuclear weapons.
Mr Kim described the country's arsenal as a security guarantee and "reliable, effective" deterrent that could prevent a second Korean War.
In a speech on Monday marking the 67th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire, he said his country has tried to become "a nuclear state" with "an absolute might" to prevent another war, Korean Central News Agency reports.
"Now, we’ve changed to a country which can defend itself reliably and unwaveringly against high-intensity pressures and military threats and blackmailing by imperialistic reactionaries and hostile forces," he said.
"There won’t be any war on this land again and our national security and future will be guaranteed firmly and permanently because of our reliable, effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent."
His speech followed recent remarks by both North Korean and US officials suggesting they were reluctant to embark on a new round of talks aimed at limiting the country's nuclear program.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said President Donald Trump would only want to engage with Mr Kim if there were real prospects of progress.
Mr Kim’s sister and senior ruling party official, Kim Yo Jong, said a new summit would be "unpractical" for North Korea and that Pyongyang will not grant Mr Trump a high-level meeting.
Kim Jong Un and Mr Trump have met three times since 2018, after Mr Kim signalled to Washington and Seoul a willingness to deal away his advancing nuclear arsenal.
Many experts were sceptical of Mr Kim’s disarmament commitment and said he only aimed to weaken US-led sanctions and perfect his nuclear programme.
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With talks stalled, Mr Kim entered this year with a vow to bolster his nuclear program and threatened to unveil a new “strategic” weapon.
He also said he would no longer be bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.
Kim Jong Un - In pictures
Mr Kim has not performed such high-profile weapons tests, which some analysts say could completely derail diplomacy with the United States.
