Kim Jong-un: North Korea will take practical military deterrence measures in response to the joint military exercises of the United States and South Korea Freedom Shield, which will start on Monday, the Korean News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The decision was made at an expanded Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) meeting chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
« The meeting discussed and adopted important practical measures for a more effective, powerful, and offensive use of military deterrence to counter the current situation, in which military provocations by the United States and South Korea have come to a red line, » the KCNA statement said.
Details regarding possible measures are not provided. However, the South Korean news agency writes that the North is expected to conduct another weapons test.
Earlier, it became known that South Korea and the United States plan to conduct joint exercises, which will begin next week and last until March 23. Pyongyang has warned that Seoul and Washington will face « unprecedented » strong opposition if they advance plans for joint exercises this year. The DPRK regards them as preparations for an aggressive war.
This week, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. In addition, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un inspected the Hwaseongpo missile unit and oversaw a firing exercise. On Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a missile unit and observed a fire strike exercise.
« On March 9, Kim Jong-un supervised the affairs of the Hwaseongpo missile unit, which is taking on an important operational mission on the western front of the Korean People’s Army, on the spot, then watched the fire strike exercise, » the KCNA statement said.
It is noted that « the ability to respond to a real battle » was demonstrated during the exercises. Furthermore, the DPRK leader « expressed great satisfaction with the results of the exercises. »
