North Korea marked a founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party with a celebratory concert and banquet, and leader Kim Jong Un called for renewed training of all workers into revolutionaries espousing communism,

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will speed up steps toward becoming a military superpower with nuclear weapons and would not rule out using them if it came under enemy attack, state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea if attacked, state media reported Friday, after South Korea’s president warned that if the North used nuclear weapons it would “face the end of its regime.

Kim Jong Un reiterated that North Korea would "without hesitation" use its full attack capabilities if South Korea employed armed forces against it. This warning comes amid growing concerns over North Korea's expanding security ties with Russia.

Tough international sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine have led Moscow to turn to Pyongyang for military supplies and other help.View on euronews

North Korea 's deepening ties with Russia have caused alarm among Western powers. Kim sent Russian leader Vladimir Putin a message to celebrate his 72nd birthday this week, describing the Kremlin warlord as his “closest comrade” and said the bonds between their two countries are “invincible and eternal.”

Kim has issued similar threats to use nuclear weapons preemptively numerous times, but his latest warning came as outside experts say North Korea could ramp up animosities ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election.