North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has asked his people to prepare for a possible war.
The North Korean leader wrapped up 2023 with fresh threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul.
He then orders a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can “break out any time” on the peninsula, state media reported Sunday.
He went on to lambast the United States during a lengthy speech at the end of five days of year-end party meetings.
The meeting set North Korea’s military, political, and economic policy decisions for the coming year.
Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, reports that during the meeting plans were announced for further military development in 2024, which includes launching three more spy satellites, building unmanned drones, and developing electronic warfare capabilities, as well as strengthening nuclear and missile forces, according to the official.
Kim accused the United States of posing “various forms of military threat” and ordered his armed forces to maintain the “overwhelming war response capability.”
The meeting concluded that it is a “fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula any time due to the enemies’ reckless moves for invading the DPRK.”
The military “should rapidly respond to any possible nuclear crisis and put continuous spurs to the preparations for a great event to suppress the whole territory of South Korea by mobilizing all physical means and forces including nuclear forces in contingency,” Kim said.
Kim told the meeting he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, noting the “uncontrollable crisis” that he said was triggered by Seoul and Washington.
‘Prepare for war’ – Kim Jong Un tells North Korean military