North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military, munitions industry and nuclear weapons sector to speed up war preparations to counter what he called an unprecedented confrontational move by the US, state media said on Thursday.
Speaking on policy directives for the new year at a key meeting of the country’s ruling party on Wednesday, Kim also said Pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with “free, anti-imperialist” countries, KCNA news agency reported.
“He (Kim) set militant tasks for the People’s Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors to further accelerate preparations for war,” KCNA said.
North Korea has expanded ties with Russia, among other things, as Washington accuses Pyongyang of supplying military equipment to Moscow for use in its war with Ukraine, while Russia provides technical support to help the North advance its military capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is now ordering his troops to counter what he calls an unprecedented confrontational move by the US. via REUTERS
Kim also laid out economic goals for the new year during the meeting, calling it a “decisive year” for achieving the country’s five-year development plan, the report said.
“He … explained the important tasks for the new year to be dynamically advanced in the main industrial sector,” and called for “stabilizing agricultural production at a high level.”
The North has experienced serious food shortages in recent decades, including famine in the 1990s, often as a result of natural disasters.
Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with “free, anti-imperialist” countries. via REUTERS
International experts have warned that border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic are worsening food security.
North Korea’s crop yields are estimated to increase year-on-year in 2023 due to favorable weather conditions.
But a Seoul official said the number was still far below the amount needed to address chronic food shortages in the country.
Kim Jong Un laid out economic goals for the new year and called it a “decisive year” for achieving the country’s five-year development plan. via REUTERS
The 9th plenary meeting of the 8th central committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea began on Tuesday to cap a year in which the reclusive North enshrined a nuclear policy in its constitution, launched a spy satellite and fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
Multi-day gatherings of parties and government officials have been used in recent years to make important policy announcements.
Previously, state media released Kim’s speech on New Year’s Day.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
