North Korea, China, Russia Expanding Nuclear Weapons Arsenal Fast, Says US

The White House official said that North Korea, Russia and China are driving the US and its allies into bracing for a 'world where nuclear competition occurs without numerical constraints'.

The United States said on Friday that North Korea, China, and Russia are expanding and diversifying their nuclear weapons stockpiles at a "breakneck" speed. Speaking at a forum, a White House official warned that, absent a change in the trajectory of their arsenals, Washington may have to increase its own.

The remarks were made by the senior director for arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation at the National Security Council, Pranay Vaddi. He also noted that the three countries are driving the US and its allies into bracing for a "world where nuclear competition occurs without numerical constraints,"  as reported by news agency IANS, citing Yonhap news agency.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Arms Control Association, a US-based nonpartisan organisation, Pranay Vaddi said, "Russia, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control," as quoted by IANS.

"Those three, together with Iran, are increasingly cooperating and coordinating with each other in ways that run counter to peace and stability, threaten the United States, our allies, and our partners, and exacerbate regional tensions," he further stated.

The official pointed out that to deal with the realities of a "new" nuclear era, President Joe Biden recently issued updated nuclear weapons employment guidance. "It emphasises the need to account for the growth and diversity of the PRC's nuclear arsenal and the need to deter Russia, the PRC, and North Korea simultaneously," he said. "It also reaffirms our commitment to use arms control and other tools to minimise the number of nuclear weapons needed to achieve US objectives."

US Will Need To Adjust Its Posture To Deter Growing Threats: White House Official

The White House official warned that there is a need for Washington to adjust its posture and capabilities to ensure its ability to deter growing threats from the three countries. "Let me be clear (that) absent a change in the trajectory of adversary arsenals, we may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required," he stated, as quoted by IANS.

Vaddi emphasised that the US has already taken "prudent" deterrence steps, including pursuing a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, and seeking to extend the life of certain Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines during the transition from legacy to modern capabilities.

The official also pointed out that the US has "fully" invested to ensure that its "extended deterrence" commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend allies, continues to contribute to nonproliferation efforts, as reported by IANS.