North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a ” radical intensification of missile production, the state news agency KCNA reported on Monday (August 14th), as Seoul and Washington prepare for joint military maneuvers.
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Kim visited factories producing missiles, ammunition for super-large caliber multiple rocket launchers and armored fighting vehicles on Friday (11) and Saturday (12), KCNA reported.
The leader expressed his ” satisfaction during a visit to a missile production center which managed to ” improve scientific and technological issues related to production and upgraded the weapons. ” He set an important goal: to significantly increase the production capacity of missiles », and underlined the role of the factory in « acceleration preparations for war, according to KCNA.
Mr. Kim pointed out “ the need to boost shell production and personally drove an armored fighting vehicle, the agency said.
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“Destroy” the enemy in case of attack
Photos published by the newspaper Rodong Sinmun show a beaming Mr. Kim, seated in the driver’s seat of a ” new model of armored fighting vehicle “. During these inspections, he also visited ammunition production plants for very large caliber multiple rocket launchers and transporter-erector-launchers (TEL).
The North Korean army must have a ” overwhelming military force ” and be ” ready to face any war at any time Mr. Kim said, saying she must “ annihilate the enemy if attacked, KCNA reported.
These visits took place at a time when South Korea and the United States are preparing joint exercises, dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield, which are due to take place from August 21 to 31. Pyongyang sees all of these exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has repeatedly warned that it will take action ” overwhelming ” to answer.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul described the maneuvers as ” challenging and realistic exercise aimed at strengthening the alliance’s joint defense posture and response capabilities “. A summit between the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan is to be held on Friday 18 in Washington, with the aim of strengthening their security cooperation in the face of an increasingly threatening North Korea.
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(with AFP)