N Korea, China, Russia expanding nuclear arsenals, says US

Peace activists wearing masks of Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden pose with mock nuclear missiles in front of Berlin’s landmark the Brandenburg Gate. FILE PIC/GETTY IMAGES

North Korea, China and Russia are expanding and diversifying their nuclear weapons stockpiles at a "breakneck" speed, a White House official has said, warning that absent a change in the trajectory of their arsenals, the US may have to increase its own.

Pranay Vaddi, senior director for arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation at the National Security Council, made the remarks at a forum on Friday, noting that the three countries are driving the US and its allies into bracing for a "world where nuclear competition occurs without numerical constraints", Yonhap news agency reported.

"Russia, the PRC and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control," he said at the event hosted by the Arms Control Association, a US-based nonpartisan organisation. PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China.

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