North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered to intensify preparations for war after inspecting troops at a major military operations base in the west of the country. At the same time, the United States and South Korea are holding joint military exercises with thousands of soldiers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects the army at an undisclosed site).
North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA did not disclose the location of the base in a report on Thursday.
According to KCNA, the North Korean leader said that the army must "actively usher in a new heyday of strengthening combat readiness in accordance with the requirements of the current situation."
He added: "Our army should continue to strengthen actual combat exercises, rapidly improve its combat capability, and make good preparations for war." ”
Kim Jong-un's visit comes as the U.S. and South Korean teams continue to hold their annual large-scale military exercise "Freedom Shield."
The exercise, which began on Monday, is expected to include 48 field exercises, including missile interception, bombing, air assault and live-fire firing, with twice as many troops participating as last year.
KCNA did not say whether Kim Jong-un discussed US-South Korean exercises with the troops he met).
North Korea has long condemned the U.S. and South Korean military exercises, claiming they were a rehearsal for an invasion and conducting ** tests against previous ones.
On Monday, KCNA quoted an unnamed spokesman for the North Korean Defense Ministry as urging Seoul and Washington to stop "reckless" and "crazy war exercises."
The spokesman added that the United States and South Korea "will pay dearly for their wrong choice."
In Thursday's report, KCNA did not mention whether Kim Jong-un had directly mentioned the Freedom Shield exercises.
According to the report, the troops of the base are conducting exercises in simulated real combat conditions.
North Korea continues to conduct missile tests this year in the process of modernizing its army.