SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to redouble efforts to make his nuclear force fully ready for combat with the United States and its allies, state media reported Tuesday, after the country disclosed a new platform likely designed to fire more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the mainland U.S.

Kim has repeatedly made similar promises, but his latest threat comes as outside experts believe Kim will perform provocative weapons tests before the U.S. presidential election in November. In recent days, North Korea has also resumed launches of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea.

In a speech commemorating the 76th anniversary of his government on Monday, Kim stated that North Korea faces “a serious threat” due to what he called “the reckless expansion” of a U.S.-led regional military alliance that is now evolving into a nuclear-based one. Kim asserted that this development is pushing North Korea to strengthen its military capabilities, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim said North Korea will “reinforce its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state including the nuclear force fully prepared for combat,” KCNA said.

North Korea has been expressing strong disapproval of the July signing of a new U.S.-South Korean defense framework intended to integrate U.S. nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons in response to the escalating North Korean nuclear threats. North Korea maintains the framework exposes its adversaries’ intentions to invade the country. U.S. and South Korean officials have consistently stated their lack of intent to attack the country.

Since 2022, North Korea has significantly accelerated its weapons development activities in an attempt to refine its capabilities to launch strikes on the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. and South Korea have reacted by expanding military drills, which North Korea considers invasion rehearsals.

Numerous analysts believe North Korea has a few remaining technological hurdles to overcome to acquire long-range nuclear missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, although it is likely already in possession of missiles that can strike key targets in South Korea and Japan.

South Korean officials and experts predict that North Korea may conduct nuclear tests or ICBM test-launches prior to the U.S. election, aiming to increase its bargaining power in future diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. Observers suggest that North Korea likely believes an enhanced nuclear capacity would aid them in securing concessions from the U.S., such as sanctions relief.

As of Tuesday morning, North Korea had not conducted any significant military displays to commemorate this year's anniversary. However, on Sunday, the North's primary newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published a photograph of Kim inspecting what seemed to be a 12-axle missile launch vehicle, the largest the country has showcased thus far, during a visit to an ammunition plant. This sparked speculation that the North might be developing a new ICBM that surpasses its current Hwasong-17 ICBM, which is launched on an 11-axle vehicle.

When questioned about the photo on Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder declined to provide a specific evaluation of North Korea's missile capabilities. He reaffirmed that Washington is working closely with Seoul, Tokyo, and other allies to maintain regional security and deter potential attacks.

“It's not unusual for North Korea to employ media reports and images to attempt to signal, you know, to the world,” he stated.

North Korea launched hundreds of large balloons filled with garbage toward South Korea over five consecutive days ending Sunday, extending a Cold War-era psychological warfare campaign that has further inflamed tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The balloons primarily contained waste paper and vinyl, and there have been no reports of significant damage.

North Korea initiated its balloon campaign in late May, describing it as a response to South Korean civilians launching propaganda leaflets across the border using their own balloons. South Korea subsequently resumed its anti-Pyongyang propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the rivals' tense land border.

Experts suggest North Korea is highly sensitive to South Korean leaflet campaigns and loudspeaker broadcasts, as these actions could undermine its efforts to control the flow of foreign information to its 26 million citizens.