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SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea overspent its military budget this year to boost "offensive and defensive" capabilities in the face of mounting tensions with the United States over its nuclear weapons programs, a top North Korean official said Thursday.
Ro Tu Chol, vice premier of the Cabinet, said increased spending was crucial to preserving its "nuclear deterrent force" despite U.S.-backed international pressure on the North to give up its nuclear ambitions.
To increase production of fuel, electricity and equipment for the North Korean military during the yearlong standoff with Washington, North Korea spent 0.5 percent more than originally budgeted, Ro was quoted as saying by North Korea's KCNA news agency.
In March, North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly allotted 15.4 percent of the national budget to the military, up from 14.4 percent the previous year. North Korea did not announce the budget's total dollar amount.
The North Korean military budget overrun disclosure came a day after the U.S. State Department announced 60,000 metric tons of American food will be sent to North Korea to help avert hunger and starvation.