North Korea on Tuesday criticized the United States and Asian neighbors for pursuing the "absurd" goal of denuclearizing the North and said it will push to expand its nuclear forces under the direction of its authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea criticized the United States for pursuing the "absurd and outdated" goal of denuclearization Tuesday, saying that Pyongyang would stick to leader Kim Jong Un's goal of building up its nuclear forces.

The United States, Japan and South Korea renewed their "resolute" pledge to seek the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, according to a joint statement from the three allies released Saturday.

North Korea on Tuesday criticized the United States and Asian neighbors for pursuing the “absurd” goal of denuclearizing the North and said it will push to expand its nuclear forces under the direction of its leader Kim Jong Un.

This comes after the three countries’ top diplomats met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (Feb 15).

The statement by Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry came after the top diplomats of the US, South Korea and Japan met at a security conference in Germany and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation and reinforcing an international sanctions regime to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

North Korea's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it will keep bolstering its nuclear force, denouncing a recent joint pledge by the United States, South Korea and Japan for its denuclearisation, according to state media KCNA.