[ad_1]
This undated picture taken by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and released on 10 January 2024 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) inspecting a major munitions factory to learn about the production of weapons and equipment at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un visited arms factories this week and emphasised the strategic importance of
the production of major weapons. - Kim called for readjustment
in the organisation of munitions production while acknowledging recent
“shortcomings” in the process. - The US and its allies
condemned North Korea’s arms transfers with Russia and raised the issue with
the UN Security Council.
North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited arms factories this week, state media outlet
KCNA reported on Wednesday as the United States and its partners condemned the
country’s arms transfers with Russia.
Kim
also highlighted recent “shortcomings” in the organisation of
munitions production and called for readjustment while emphasising the
“strategic importance of the production of major weapons”, state
media said.
KCNA
photos of Kim’s visit to a munitions factory showed him inspecting mobile
short-range missile launch vehicles.
His
visit comes as nearly 50 countries condemned Russia’s procurement and use of
North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine.
“Russia’s
use of DPRK ballistic missiles in Ukraine also provides valuable technical and
military insights to the DPRK,” the joint statement said on Tuesday, using
the initials of North Korea’s official name.
READ | Russia used North Korean missiles in recent attacks on Ukraine – US
US
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that after
the initially reported uses of North Korean ballistic missiles on 30 December
and 2 January, Russia had fired more such weapons at Ukraine, including one
that landed in Kharkiv.
The
United States and its allies and partners will raise the issue with the UN
Security Council on Wednesday, he said at a briefing.
Kim
also said the time has come to define South Korea as a state “most
hostile” towards his country, KCNA reported.
He
accused Seoul of inciting confrontation and an arms buildup while urging his
country to step up its military capabilities for self-defence and its nuclear
war deterrent. He described worsening relations between the two Koreas as a
“new phase of change” and “unavoidable reality”.
“We
would by no means unilaterally bring a great event by the overwhelming strength
in the Korean peninsula but we have no intention of avoiding a war as
well,” the leader was quoted as saying.
In
remarks at a year-end party meeting last month, Kim said peaceful reunification
is impossible, adding that the government would make a “decisive policy
change” in relations with South Korea.
[ad_2]
Source link