SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renewed his call for a “limitless” expansion of his military nuclear program to counter U.S.-led threats in comments reported Monday that were his first direct criticism toward Washington since Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election.
At a conference with army officials on Friday, Kim condemned the United States for updating its nuclear deterrence strategies with South Korea and solidifying three-way military cooperation involving Japan, which he portrayed as an “Asian NATO” that was escalating tensions and instability in the region.
Kim also criticized the United States over its support of Ukraine against a prolonged Russian invasion. He insisted that Washington and its Western allies were using Ukraine as their “shock troops” to wage a war against Moscow and expand the scope of U.S. military influence, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim has prioritized his country’s ties to Russia in recent months, embracing the idea of a “new Cold War” and displaying a united front in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader conflicts with the West.
He has used Russia’s war on Ukraine as a distraction to accelerate the development of his nuclear-armed military, which now has various nuclear-capable systems targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles that can potentially reach the U.S. mainland.
Kim has yet to directly acknowledge that he has been providing military equipment and troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine and the KCNA’s report didn’t mention whether Kim made any comments toward Trump, whose election win has yet to be reported in the North’s state media.
Kim met Trump three times in 2018 and 2019 in Trump’s first presidency, but their diplomacy quickly collapsed over disagreements in exchanging the release of U.S.-led sanctions and North Korean steps to wind down its nuclear and missile program. North Korea has since suspended any meaningful talks with Washington and Seoul as Kim ramped up his testing activity and military demonstrations in the face of what he portrayed as “gangster-like U.S. threats.” There’s concern in Seoul that Kim in exchange for his military support of Russia would receive Russian technology in return to further develop his arsenal.
Trump’s election win has touched off speculation about a resumption of a summit-driven diplomacy with Kim, which was described by critics as a “bromance.” But some experts say a quick return to 2018 is highly unlikely, as too much has changed about the regional security situation and broader geopolitics since then.
While the North Korean nuclear problem was relatively an independent issue during Trump’s first term, it is now connected with broader challenges created by Russia’s war on Ukraine and further complicated by weakened sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang, Hwang Ildo, a professor at South Korea’s National Diplomatic Academy, wrote in a study last week.
North Korea’s nuclear and missile program is now much more advanced, which would increase Kim’s perception of his bargaining powers. Kim’s efforts to boost North Korea’s presence in a united front against Washington could also gain strength if Trump spikes tariffs and rekindles a trade war with China, the North’s main ally and economic lifeline, Hwang said.
Amid the stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations with Washington, Kim has been dialing up pressure on South Korea, abandoning his country’s long-standing goal of inter-Korean reconciliation and verbally threatening to attack the South with nukes if provoked.
Kim has also engaged in psychological and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as flying thousands of balloons to drop trash in the South and disrupting GPS signals from border areas near the South’s biggest airport.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea again flew trash-laden balloons toward the South early Monday and issued a statement warning the North “not to test our military’s patience any further.” The North has launched about 7,000 balloons toward the South since May, causing property damage but so far no injuries. On at least two occasions, trash carried by North Korea’s balloons fell on Seoul’s presidential compound, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key sites.
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Nov. 15, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Nov. 15, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the Toronto Argonauts to their 19th Grey Cup title, throwing two second-half touchdowns passes in a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday night at B.C. Place.
Forced into action after starter Chad Kelly broke his ankle in Toronto's East championship victory over Montreal, Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards in Toronto's second Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg in three seasons.
Toronto is 8-0 against Winnipeg in the Grey Cup, also winning in 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 2022. Winnipeg was appearing in its fifth straight Grey Cup. It won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2000 season canceled.
Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett to give Toronto a 24-16 lead with 7:31 left. On the first play after the kickoff, DaShaun Amos intercepted Zach Collaros' pass and returned it to the Winnipeg 16 to set up Brian Hajrullahu's 14-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining.
Robert Priester iced it with 3:12 left with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wynton McManis then returned another interception 58 yards to the 4, with Ka'Deem Carey scoring on the next play to make it 41-16.
Toronto — which beat Winnipeg in both regular-season meetings — took a 17-10 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on Arbuckle's 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital — a play after Fraser Sopik recovered Lucky Whitehead's fumble on a punt return.
Winnipeg cut it to 17-13 on Sergio Castillo's 40-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third. The Blue Bombers' Michael Ayers then blocked John Haggerty's punt, but Toronto ended up with a first down because Kyrie Wilson interfered with an Argonauts player while the ball was loose.
The Blue Bombers got the ball back two plays later when Willie Jefferson intercepted Arbuckle's pass and returned it 4 yards to the Toronto 30, setting up Castillo's 23-yard field goal.
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Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) scores a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) scores a touchdown as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nick Taylor (12) looks on during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson (5) strips the ball from Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) during the the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Peter Nicastro (52) recovers a fumble against the Toronto Argonauts during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Deonta McMahon (24) runs against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Benjie Franklin (23) can't make an interception on a pass intended for Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kenny Lawler (89) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) runs back an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) makes an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) leaps to evade a hit from Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Terrell Bonds (24) and scores a touchdown during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with teammates during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
