Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the announcement by North Korea that it would expand its nuclear arsenal.

The UK is deeply concerned by reports that DPRK plans to increase its stockpile of nuclear warheads despite repeated calls to cease development of its nuclear programme. This follows reports that the DPRK may be planning to conduct a nuclear test, its first since 2017. We are working closely with our allies and partners, including the US, to strongly urge the North Korean regime to return to talks and take credible steps towards denuclearisation. We remain committed to securing peace on the Korean peninsula, working closely with allies and partners in upholding the rules-based international system and securing an end to DPRK's illegal activities.