Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to prepare for potential war, emphasizing the importance of nuclear-attack capabilities on Seoul. Plans include deploying three new spy satellites, ramping up military drone production, and enhancing their nuclear arsenal. Washington’s strategic military deployments in the region were cited as provocations by Pyongyang.
❕🇰🇷⚔️🇰🇵 – Welcome to 2024: After a South Korean artillery attack in the direction of North Korea, in both countries “preparations for war have reached the final stretch”, reported South Korean television. pic.twitter.com/6zkHqV2eW8
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformantofc) January 5, 2024
The North Korean leader ordered a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can “break out any time” on the peninsula. Meanwhile, North Korea actually fired artillery towards South’s islands, prompting evacuations. South Korea condemned the move as an ‘act of provocation that escalates tension and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula’.
North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds near a disputed maritime border with South Korea in another escalation of tension between the rivals, prompting the South to take ‘corresponding’ action with live fire drills https://t.co/kFOBenbUV2 pic.twitter.com/NUYNio6Z5B
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 5, 2024
Kim lambasted the United States during a lengthy speech at the end of five days of year-end party meetings that set his country’s military, political and economic policy decisions for 2024.
The meeting announced plans for further military development in the coming year, including launching three more spy satellites, building unmanned drones and developing electronic warfare capabilities, as well as strengthening nuclear and missile forces, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). This comes on the heels that North Korea is supplying missiles to Russia for its Ukrainian offensive. Commentators believe there is a real possibility of an Axis of Evil forming between Iran, Russia and North Korea.
At the end of December, South Korea held rare military defense drills that simulated an attack by North Korea on Seoul — replicating some of the tactics that Hamas used against Israel on October 7.
"Evacuation Alert: Yeonpyeong Island Residents Ordered to Seek Safety Amid Military Response to North Korean Provocations"
— Kali Yuga Buddha (@KaliEpoch) January 5, 2024
Residents of Yeonpyeong Island in Incheon have been ordered to evacuate in response to planned South Korean military maritime strike training, aimed at… pic.twitter.com/5CCNa8BkJ2