North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the expansion of military operations and the sharpening of war plans, state media reported on Thursday. The move comes as the United States and South Korea prepare for a large-scale joint military exercise. Kim, who has condemned these drills as invasion rehearsals, has been using them as a pretext to accelerate weapons demonstrations and testing-firings. The aim is to force the US to accept North Korea as a nuclear power, enabling Kim to negotiate economic and security concessions from a position of strength.
During a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s central military commission, Kim emphasized the need for his military to enhance its war readiness and develop offensive countermeasure plans to deter adversaries engaged in reckless military confrontation with North Korea. Kim further signed an order for the implementation of important military measures. He stressed the necessity for the military to acquire more powerful strike means to bolster its nuclear deterrent, while also urging the mass production of various weapons and systems and the conduct of actual war drills to enhance war-fighting capabilities.
Photos from the meeting showed Kim pointing to spots on a map of the Korean Peninsula, seemingly indicating the South Korean capital Seoul and the central city of Daejeon, where South Korea’s army headquarters is based. In addition to the military expansion, Kim made a personnel change, appointing Vice Marshal Ri Yong Gil as the new chief of general staff.
Experts believe that Kim’s recent actions are aimed at increasing his visibility and bolstering partnerships with countries like Russia and China. This strategic move would help Kim break out of diplomatic isolation and potentially form a united front against the US. Last month, Kim invited Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese ruling party officials to a military parade in Pyongyang, where he showcased powerful missiles targeting South Korea and the US. This show of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine further raised concerns about North Korea’s willingness to supply arms to Russia.
While tensions on the Korean Peninsula are running high, with North Korea’s nuclear push and weapons demonstrations, US and South Korean intelligence authorities continue to monitor North Korean activities closely. In response to Kim’s military expansion plans, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Lee Sung Joon, stated that they were monitoring North Korean weapons development activities and the possibility of provocations.
North Korean officials have also agreed to hold another military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the government’s founding. This would be the country’s third military parade in 2023 alone, which is unprecedented.
This latest development underscores the escalating tensions in the region and the North Korean regime’s determination to strengthen its military capabilities. As the US and South Korea conduct their drills, the situation remains highly volatile, and the international community will be closely watching for any further developments.
