North Korean Leader Orders Military to Accelerate War Preparations
In a recent report, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed the country’s military, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons sector to intensify preparations for war. Kim cited what he termed “unprecedented confrontation moves” by the United States as the reason for this escalation. The directive was issued during a crucial meeting of North Korea’s ruling party, where Kim also emphasized the expansion of strategic cooperation with “anti-imperialist independent” countries.
According to the state news agency KCNA, Kim outlined militant tasks for the People’s Army, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors to hasten their war preparations. The move comes amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States, with the former seeking closer ties with nations like Russia. The U.S. has accused North Korea of supplying military equipment to Moscow for its conflict with Ukraine, while Russia provides technical support to North Korea’s military advancements.
Kim also unveiled economic goals for the upcoming year, referring to it as a “decisive year” to achieve the country’s five-year development plan. He emphasized key tasks in various industrial sectors and called for efforts to stabilize agricultural production at a high level. North Korea has faced chronic food shortages over the years, exacerbated by factors such as natural disasters and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to border closures.
While North Korea’s crop output reportedly increased in 2023 due to favorable weather conditions, it remains insufficient to address the country’s ongoing food security challenges. The recent plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea discussed significant policy matters, including the enshrinement of nuclear policy in the constitution, the launch of a spy satellite, and the testing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. Such meetings have traditionally served as platforms for key policy announcements by North Korean officials.
