Kim Jong Un Urges North Korea's Military Readiness To Counter 'Provocation And Threat Of The Enemy Immediately And Powerfully'

North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, urged his military to prepare for any provocations from adversaries, following the country’s vow to deploy more formidable forces and weapons along its southern border.

What Happened: During a visit to the North Korean Air Force command, Kim provided guidelines to enhance the military’s combat posture and boost its war-fighting capabilities, the KCNA news agency reported.

“He set forth operational and tactical policies … so as to counter any military provocation and threat of the enemy immediately and powerfully,” KCNA stated.

He also praised the air force for being “fully prepared to perfectly carry out their air combat missions under any unfavorable situation.”

Why It Matters: Tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated since North Korea’s spy satellite launch last month. This move led Seoul to suspend a significant clause in a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, and Pyongyang consequently declared itself no longer bound by the pact.

The U.S. and its allies have strongly criticized North Korea’s first spy satellite launch, deeming it a breach of several United Nations Security Council resolutions. However, Pyongyang has expressed intentions to launch more satellites, asserting it as an act of self-defense.

Amid the increasing strain, South Korea has suspended tours of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, according to a Seoul official. North Korean soldiers at the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the DMZ have reportedly resumed carrying firearms after the North withdrew from the inter-Korean military agreement.

In response to the satellite launch, the United States and South Korea imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea and 11 North Koreans, respectively, on Thursday.

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