SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his call for a 'limitless' buildup of his military nuclear program to counter US-led threats in comments reported Monday that were his first direct criticism against Washington since Donald Trump's win in the US election.

At a conference with army officials on Friday, Kim condemned the United States for updating its nuclear deterrence strategies with South Korea and solidifying three-way military cooperation involving Japan, which he portrayed as an 'Asian NATO' that was escalating tensions and instability in the region.