North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued orders for his country's military to prepare "offensive" capabilities, according to state media outlet Korean Central News Agency.
The directives were given during a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. The report stated that Kim analyzed the current situation on the Korean peninsula and its surrounding areas and concluded that the Korean People's Army should enhance its war preparations in an offensive manner.
The meeting was convened to address the pressing issue of strengthening the army's readiness for war, given the serious political and military situation prevailing in the Korean peninsula. However, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ahn Eun-ju downplayed North Korea's aggressive stance, suggesting that the country should focus on the safety of its citizens in light of the approaching Tropical Storm Khaunun.
Ahn emphasized that South Korea maintains a firm readiness posture and that North Korea's empty threats of force will not be effective. This comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration has made it clear that they will "never" seek an end to the 70-year-long conflict, as stated by Reunification Minister Kim Yung-ho in one of his recent press conferences.
Kim Yung-ho further explained that a formal end to the conflict would jeopardize North Korea's accountability for prisoners of war and kidnapping victims. It is worth noting that although an armistice agreement was reached in 1953, which ended active military combat between the two nations, the conflict has not been officially resolved.
Login