North Korea leverages US-China rivalry for nuclear status

North Korea has launched a spirited defense of its nuclear arsenal, framing its weapons build-up as justified by mounting global superpower rivalry between the US and China. Analysts suggest the winding down of the Iran conflict may allow Washington to refocus on the Korean peninsula, potentially increasing pressure on Pyongyang to return to negotiations. Pyongyang's strategy signals a shift from merely rejecting disarmament calls to actively leveraging geopolitical tensions to legitimize its 'irreversible' nuclear status.