North Korea on Tuesday reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen its nuclear power as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Seoul for a two-day visit amid Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats.
The North also condemned the United States raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as Washington is sending three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers near Korea in line with Trump's trip there.
"As long as the U.S. and its followers continue their hostile acts against us, we will further bolster our nuclear, precious sword of justice," the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, said in a commentary.
Trump is set to arrive in South Korea later in the day after visiting Japan for three days. Seoul is the second leg of Trump's 12-day trip to five Asian nations including China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
His tour comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launches and sixth nuclear test.
North Korea has refrained from provocations for more than 50 days since its testing of an intermediate-range missile over Japan in September.
Trump said in Japan that the North's nuclear ambitions posed a "threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability." He also said that the "era of strategic patience" with the North was over.
