North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the need for enhanced war fighting capabilities against the United States and South Korea, according to state media on Thursday.
This comes after his defense ministry pledged to counter ongoing military exercises that are perceived as an invasion rehearsal by North Korea's adversaries.
Kim Jong Un Orders to Ramp up War Drills
While visiting a western operational training base on Wednesday, Kim Jong Un emphasized the importance of intensifying war drills to enhance combat capabilities for war preparedness, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
Kim Jong Un emphasized the need for increased readiness to counter the ongoing threat posed by adversaries with superior strength, as reported by KCNA. He oversaw the operations of military units at the location without providing further details.
The North Korean leader has advocated for a stronger military on multiple occasions in the past. His most recent request was made two days following a threat from North Korea's Defense Ministry to carry out unspecified "responsible military activities" due to what they claimed were increasingly blatant South Korean-US military exercises aimed at invading the North.
The South Korean and US militaries have commenced their yearly computer-simulated command post training and a range of field exercises, which will last for 11 days. This year's exercises were set to include 48 field drills, which is double the amount carried out the previous year. Both nations have stated that their exercises are purely defensive, as per ABC News.
North Korea has responded to past South Korean-US military drills with missile and other weapons trials. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are still elevated following North Korea's series of missile tests starting in 2022.
Several tests were conducted with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, targeting South Korea and the mainland United States. In the past year, North Korea conducted six rounds of missile tests. The US and South Korean forces have reacted by increasing their training exercises.
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North Korea Weapons Arsenal Expansion
According to experts, North Korea probably thinks that expanding its weapons arsenal would give it more power in future negotiations with the United States. According to reports, North Korea is seeking significant sanctions relief while holding onto its nuclear weapons.
Observers predict that North Korea will escalate tensions through additional weapons tests and strong language this year, coinciding with significant elections in the US and South Korea.
North Korea perceives its rivals' significant military exercises as practice for invasion, despite South Korean and US officials consistently stating they do not plan to attack the North.
Last week, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that this year's military exercises with the United States aim to counter North Korean nuclear threats and will include live-firing, bombing, air assault, and missile interception drills.
There has been an increase in worries about North Korea's nuclear program over the last couple of years, with the country conducting missile tests frequently and making public threats to use nuclear weapons proactively.
The military exercises between the US and South Korea have been expanded, with a greater deployment of powerful US military assets such as aircraft carriers and nuclear-capable bombers in response.
