North Korea increases military drills: A warning from Kim Jong Un

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the military to intensify war drills during a visit to a military training base, in response to joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the US.

According to the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), two days after the start of the 'Freedom Shield' exercise, which was launched by South Korea and the US to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's "nuclear and missile threats," Kim Jong Un instructed the army to increase drills.

During his visit to a base in the west of the country, where he inspected training facilities and the training of military units, Kim told the army to increase drills aimed at improving war capabilities to control their enemies, who possess 'overwhelming power,' and their 'attempts to ignite the fuse of war.'

Reacting to the joint exercise between South Korea and the US, Kim emphasized that the two countries would pay a 'heavy price.'

South Korea and the US began the joint military exercise, dubbed 'Freedom Shield,' on March 4 with the aim of "strengthening the joint defense posture." The exercise is held regularly every year. However, the US and South Korea decided to expand the scope and duration of the operation this year.

It was stated that the exercise aims to increase the joint defense posture of the two countries and will focus on multi-domain operations using land, sea, air, and cyber assets, as well as responding to nuclear operations.

North Korea characterizes such joint military exercises as a rehearsal for invasion, while Seoul and Washington maintain that the military drills are defensive in nature.