Kim Jong-un has made visits to weapons factories within North Korea, where he issued directives to significantly enhance the current production capacity of missiles.
The two-day tour of missile and rocket manufacturing sites comes after Kim’s recent inspections of multiple munitions facilities spanning three days the prior week.
Kim relieved his top general of duties on Wednesday, stressing the need for the nation to exhibit impeccable military preparedness for potential conflict.
Official imagery released by the Korean Central News Agency depicted him grinning while positioned next to another military vehicle.
As reported by the agency, Kim expressed the imperative for the North Korean armed forces to possess an “overwhelming military force” capable of swiftly countering any potential conflict scenario and deterring adversaries from even contemplating the use of their armed forces.
He underscored the necessity of annihilating any attacking forces if they were to initiate an assault.
In the coming weeks, South Korea and the United States are slated to conduct their routine Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, scheduled from August 21 to 31. This event typically triggers strong condemnation and symbolic actions from Pyongyang.
Quoting Kim’s remarks, as reported by Chongnyon Chonwi, the official newspaper of North Korea’s Socialist Patriotic Youth League, he emphasised that the factory he toured holds a highly significant role in accelerating the war readiness efforts of the Korean People’s Army.
He urged the factory to incite a notable increase in production for war preparations by harnessing the full patriotic fervour of the working class.
The newspaper added: “Upon receiving his great trust and important instructions, officials, workers and technicians of major munitions factories made a firm pledge to remain absolutely faithful to the party’s cause with countless achievements in increasing the production of powerful means of war deterrence.”
Apart from the impending annual collaborative drills in the South, the Pyongyang administration is worried about the recent strengthening of ties and military collaboration among Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. The trio of allies is scheduled to convene for a summit at Camp David on Friday and has intentions to establish regular trilateral meetings among their leaders on an annual basis.
