Leader Kim Jong-un observed major weapons tests and called for the military’s “deadly and destructive offensive posture” to be bolstered, state media reported, as South Korea announced it would drastically boost its drone warfare capabilities.
The development comes as tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula, with Kim pushing to strengthen both nuclear and conventional military capabilities while refusing to return to talks with South Korea and the United States.
The tests watched by Kim on Thursday were meant to evaluate the power of a “special mission” warhead for a tactical ballistic missile, an upgraded multiple rocket launch system and the hit accuracy of shells with an extended firing range of a self-propelled gun-howitzer, the official Korean Central News Agency said yesterday.
Kim said North Korea’s self-defence policy includes an objective to strengthen “the deadly and destructive offensive posture to make no enemy dare to confront,” KCNA said.
“To make the enemies feel constant uneasiness and fear is just an important aspect of the exercise of war deterrent.”
KCNA said the special mission warhead tested is aimed at “inflicting fatal damage on major targets including airfields, ports and power facilities of the enemy”.
Later yesterday, South Korea’s Defence Ministry announced plans to beef up its drone forces, citing growing military threats by North Korea which allegedly received technology assistance from Russia.
The plans include developing long-range exploding drones, acquiring more than 20,000 low-cost reconnaissance and attack drones and training the country’s entire 500,000 troops as “drone warriors”, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told reporters. — AP
