SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a major military operations base in the western region of the country and ordered heightened readiness for war, according to state KCNA news agency on Thursday.
The visit to the base, whose location was not disclosed, took place after the start of annual joint military exercises by U.S. and South Korean forces in the South, involving double the number of troops compared to previous years.
Kim emphasized the need for the military to be fully prepared for any potential conflict, stating that they must work towards intensifying war preparations in line with the current situation.
“Our army should focus on enhancing its combat capabilities through actual war drills to ensure perfect war preparedness,” Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.
The specifics of whether Kim directly mentioned the U.S. and South Korean drills were not mentioned in the report. The North Korean leader observed troops engaging in simulated war conditions during the inspection, as per KCNA.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Alistair Bell)
