SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the unstable geopolitical situations surrounding his country mean now is the time to prepare for war more than ever, as he inspected the country’s main military university, KCNA news agency reported on Thursday.
Kim gave on-the-ground advice Wednesday to Kim Jong Il The Military and Political University, named after his father who died in 2011, which, according to KCNA, is “the highest seat of military education” in the country.
North Korea has accelerated weapons development in recent years under Kim and has forged closer military and political ties with Russia, allegedly helping Moscow in its war against Ukraine in exchange for help with military projects strategic.
Kim told university staff and students that “if the enemy opts for military confrontation with the DPRK, the DPRK will deliver a mortal blow without hesitation by mobilizing all means at its disposal,” KCNA reported.
DPRK is short for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name for the North.
“Referring to the complex international situation… and the uncertain and unstable military and political situation around the DPRK, he said the time has come to prepare more thoroughly than ever for war,” KCNA said.
Earlier this month, Kim oversaw the test launch of a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile using solid fuel, which analysts said would boost the North’s ability to deploy missiles more effectively than fueled variants liquid.
North Korea has accused the United States and South Korea of provoking military tensions by carrying out what it calls “war maneuvers”, as the allies have carried out military exercises with greater intensity and greater magnitude in recent months.
(This story has been refiled to add an opening quote in paragraph 4)
(Reporting by Jack Kim; editing by Chris Reese and Sonali Paul)
yahoo
