North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed military commanders to ensure their units are fully prepared for war, state media reported on Wednesday, underscoring the importance of combat readiness amid heightened tensions with South Korea.
Kim made the remarks on Tuesday during a photo session with participants in the third meeting of Company Leaders of the Korean People’s Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim Calls for Intensive Military Training
Kim described preparing military units for combat as the primary revolutionary task of company leaders, emphasising the need to improve the quality and intensity of military training.
He said commanders must ensure their units were fully prepared to fight a war and achieve a significant improvement in demanding and intensive training programmes.
Kim also urged military leaders to demonstrate their loyalty to the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and the country’s revolutionary cause through their performance and leadership.
He called on commanders to transform their companies into highly capable fighting forces, highlighting revolutionary conviction, patriotism, discipline and combat effectiveness as essential qualities.
The remarks reflect Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on military preparedness and the readiness of its armed forces.
Tensions Rise Following DMZ Explosion
Kim’s comments come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following an explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea, last month.
The incident, which occurred on September 21, injured three South Korean soldiers.
North Korea fires two missiles off east coast within three hours
South Korea blamed North Korea for the incident but also called for the resumption of military communication between the two sides to help reduce tensions and prevent further escalation.
Pyongyang rejected Seoul’s accusations and had not responded to the offer of talks, according to the report.
Both Koreas Present Accounts to UN Security Council
Following the incident, both North and South Korea submitted letters to the United Nations Security Council outlining their respective accounts of what happened in the DMZ.
The competing accounts highlight the continuing diplomatic and security challenges between the two countries, which remain divided despite periodic efforts to improve relations.
The latest statements from Kim add to concerns about military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, although the report did not indicate that North Korea had announced any specific new military operation.
For now, the focus remains on Pyongyang’s renewed emphasis on combat preparedness and whether diplomatic communication between the two sides can resume to ease tensions.
