North Korea Continues Arms Buildup

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has doubled down on his arms buildup in the face of what he describes as an aggravating security environment. Kim concluded a major political conference Friday that was held as outside governments monitor signs of a possibly imminent North Korean nuclear test explosion. Kim’s comments published by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday didn’t include any direct criticism of the United States or rival South Korea amid a prolonged deadlock in nuclear diplomacy during the three days of discussions.