North Korea leader Kim says military, if provoked, should ‘thoroughly annihilate’ US, South Korea

North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un on Monday began the new year with more fiery rhetoric about his country's military might, saying it should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, according to state media. 

He also vowed to increase national defense to address what he considers an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation, the Associated Press reports.

Kim's comments come amid an expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

He said last week his rogue nation, which poses a global nuclear threat, will this year launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and develop attack drones.

Foreign policy experts say Kim is using is such threats to increase his leverage and power on the world stage. 

The official Korean Central News Agency says Kim on Sunday pressed his commanding army officers about the urgency to sharpen “the treasured sword” to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to his country’s nuclear weapons program, the Associated Press also reports.