North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has asked his military to prepare for a real war against the enemies as he observed an artillery firing contest in Pyongyang on Thursday, reports said.
Kim made these comments after North Korea’s deployment of troops and weapons to help Russia during its ongoing war with Ukraine.
Video footage shows soldiers from the artillery units firing towards the sea. The developments, according to expert circles, are aimed at sending a message to neighbouring South Korea over its recent aggressive diplomatic posturing against North Korea. In the video footage broadcast by the State run media outlet KCNA, showed Kim looking through binoculars at an observation post, flanked by two military officials, but the location for Wednesday's contest was not disclosed.
He asked soldiers to be ready for “real war” at “anytime” and be capable enough of destroying the enemy in every battle”, reported KCNA. North Korean Special Forces have turned the tide in favour of Russia in the Ukraine war. Their role and bravery were recently acknowledged by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, both of whom praised the forces personnel for their battle victories in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, according to South Korean and Western intelligence primarily from Ukraine, Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region last year, along with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
Reports also suggest that around 600 soldiers have been killed and thousands more are wounded in the ongoing war. Kim has offered full support to Russia in its war against Ukraine; the two countries have inked several bilateral pacts, including the one that states if either of the two comes under attack, the other will come out in support with all military might.
These developments have concerned western nations, as North Korea’s ambition in the region could threaten the stability in the region. Though no such hostile move has been reported from South Korea or North Korea, who have been bitter enemies of each other since division.
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