N.Korea's Kim says nuclear deterrent is ready, slams South's Yoon

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un addresses a special workshop for officials in the party life guidance sections of organisational departments of party committees at all levels of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) July 7, 2022. KCNA via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country is ready to mobilise its nuclear war deterrent and counter any U.S. military clash, and criticised South Korea's new president for the first time, warning Seoul was pushing towards the brink of war.

Kim made the remarks during a speech at an event to mark the 69th anniversary of the July 27 Korean War armistice, which left the two Koreas technically still at war, according to the official KCNA news agency on Thursday.