North Korea's Kim calls for bolstering nuclear forces, KCNA says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstering nuclear forces this year during a visit to the country's nuclear material production base and nuclear weapons institute, state media KCNA said on Wednesday.

Kim praised scientists and other workers there for achieving "remarkable successes" and "amazing production results" in their work last year as he was briefed about the process for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and their plan for 2025 and beyond, KCNA said.

Kim called for further success in producing weapons-grade nuclear materials this year and strengthening the country's nuclear forces.

"This year is a crucial year as it is an important watershed in which we should carry out the tasks in the important period in the course of implementing the line of bolstering up the nuclear forces," Kim said, according to KCNA.