North Korean Leader Calls for Intensified Drills as Joint Drills Continue
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for heightened war preparations, urging intensified military drills amidst ongoing joint exercises between the United States and South Korea. Kim’s visit to an army training base in the western region of North Korea was accompanied by high-ranking defense officials.
State-run media reported that Kim emphasized the necessity for the Korean People’s Army to escalate training efforts, setting forth crucial tasks to ensure victory in potential conflicts. The visit coincided with the annual Freedom Shield exercise, conducted by U.S. and South Korean forces, focusing on countering threats from North Korea.
These exercises involve a significant number of joint field drills, including missile interception, bombing, air assault, and live-firing. North Korea has historically condemned such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, often responding with its own missile tests. Kim’s directive for heightened readiness comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with Pyongyang labeling Seoul as the “principal enemy” and rejecting the goal of reunification. Despite North Korea’s recent halt in missile launches, its military modernization efforts continue, posing ongoing challenges to regional stability.
