The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has signaled that he will speed up procedures to make his country a military superpower with nuclear weapons, the use of which he would not rule out if attacked, state news agency KCNA reported today.

The specific comments were made during Kim’s speech at a university. According to KCNA, Kim Jong-un said he does not intend to attack South Korea, adding, however, that “if the enemy attempts to use force against our country,” the North Korean military will use all available means without hesitation, which “does not rule out the use of nuclear weapons.”

Kim stressed the need for extensive strengthening of North Korea’s armed forces, according to KCNA.

He also did not fail to wish Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 72nd birthday. The North Korean leader said Putin is “the closest comrade,” noting that “strategic cooperative relations” between the two countries will be raised to a new level to “defend regional and global peace and international justice.”