North Korea’s Kim orders military to accelerate war preparations
On Thursday, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has directed his nation’s armed forces, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons sector to expedite war preparations in response to what he described as the United States’ unprecedented aggressive actions.
At a significant gathering of the nation’s governing party on Wednesday, Kim discussed the policy directions for the coming year and announced that Pyongyang would increase strategic collaboration with “anti-imperialist independent” nations, according to state agency KCNA.
North Korea has been extending its diplomatic connections with a number of countries, including Russia, since Washington charges Pyongyang of giving military hardware to Moscow for use in its conflict with Ukraine, while Russia offers technical assistance to the North to help it develop its armed forces.
When Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far East in September, he embarked on an uncommon international journey. They first saw the Vostochny Cosmodrome before going to military installations and armaments industries. Concerns were raised at the meeting that Pyongyang was giving Moscow military hardware to use in its conflict with Ukraine in exchange for Russian technological know-how.
A US nuclear-powered submarine made its way into the port city of Busan, South Korea, earlier this month. Meanwhile, Washington has been practicing with Seoul and Tokyo with its long-range bombers.
On the other hand, Pyongyang successfully launched its first military spy satellite on its third attempt, tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the solid-fuel Hwasong-18, and declared nuclear power status in the nation’s constitution.
2023 will be remembered by Kim earlier this week as a “year of great turn and great change” in which Pyongyang will see “eye-opening victories.”
The Yongbyon nuclear complex in North Korea appears to have a second reactor, according to the UN Atomic Agency, which described the development as “deeply regrettable” last week.
According to Kim’s remarks, North Korea is unlikely to cut down the rate at which it is modernizing its armed forces or testing new weapons, but other observers think he is trying to gain diplomatic leverage with Washington—possibly after the US presidential election in November of next year.
“He (Kim) set forth the militant tasks for the People’s Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defence sectors to further accelerate the war preparations,” stated the KCNA.
Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, inspected the defense posture of a frontline military unit in the eastern county of Yeoncheon on Thursday and demanded a rapid reply should North Korea provoke anything.
I urge you to immediately and firmly crush the enemy’s will for a provocation on the spot
Yoon to the troops
Kim also announced the country’s economic objectives for the coming year during the party plenum, referring to it as a “decisive year” for completing the five-year development plan, according to KCNA.
“He … clarified the important tasks for the new year to be dynamically pushed forward in the key industrial sectors,” as well as “stabilizing the agricultural production on a high level.”
Many times as a result of natural calamities, the North has experienced severe food shortages in recent decades, including famine in the 1990s. International experts have cautioned that food security was exacerbated by border closures during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Thanks to favorable weather, North Korea’s crop output was predicted to have increased year over year in 2023. However, according to a Seoul official, the sum was still considerably less than what is required to address the ongoing food shortages in the nation.
“He … clarified the important tasks for the new year to be dynamically pushed forward in the key industrial sectors,” in addition to “stabilizing the agricultural production on a high level.”
The North has frequently faced acute food shortages in recent decades due to natural disasters, including famine in the 1990s. Experts from throughout the world have warned that border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation with regard to food security.
North Korea’s crop output was expected to have increased year over year in 2023 due to excellent weather. The amount was still far less than what is needed to address the country’s ongoing food shortages, a Seoul official stated.
