North Korea is on a mission to build the ‘world’s strongest armed forces’, according to its leader Kim Jong Un.
The dictator, 42, delivered a determined speech about his future plans for the military and his intention to diversify its defence capabilities earlier this week.
It comes just days after his younger sister Kim Yo Jong issued a warning to South Korea – and all of this suggests their neighbours ought to be on high alert.
While addressing a conference of company commanders for North Korea’s Army in Pyongyang, Kim issued a rallying cry to those present as he explained a ‘new-era military build-up’ is on the horizon.
He revealed that he wants North Korea’s military branches to transform themselves into self-sufficient combat units, who are capable of carrying out operations independently.
Kim Jong Un pictured with his wife and their daughter at the National Defence Revolution Museum in North Korea earlier this month (AP/PA Images)
Addressing the sea of army chiefs, Kim outlined how he intends to ‘build a strong army in the new era and the duties of company commanders’, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He announced that ‘developing the world‘s strongest armed forces’ was at the top of his nation’s agenda and believes this can be achieved by ‘fostering the strongest companies and accelerating a military revolution of our own style’.
Kim has always been keen on making North Korea a formidable force, but given the current state of the world and the recent rumours that circulated about his health, his latest comments are being perceived as a show of strength.
Earlier this month, the US-based Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun claimed that Kim had collapsed and fallen into a coma, before being rushed to Beijing for emergency treatment.
Boldly, he then claimed that the North Korean leader had passed away and that his alleged death was being concealed by the regime.
North vs South
In what appeared to be an attempt to rubbish these allegations, photographs and footage reportedly showing Kim visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang on 19 October, accompanied by his wife and daughter.
The snaps of him browsing items were deemed to be ‘proof of life’ following the rumours that run rampant online.
In wake of all this, Kim’s sister then flexed the military muscles of North Korea while issuing a warning to the South.
North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other fortifications the border – and Kim Yo Jung announced ‘psychological warfare’ was incoming.
“Our tactical hunting teams are taking new positions, and within October, the loudspeakers for psychological warfare against the ROK will be in operation along the whole border,” she said.
The leader’s sister Kim Yo Jung had a few choice words for South Korea earlier this week (Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images)
Both sides of Korea have frequently deployed loudspeakers to blast out sounds of their choosing, according to The Guardian, but these speakers have been silent for the last 16 months.
The South usually opts to play K-pop and news critical of Kim Jong Un’s nation, while the North reportedly tends to use ‘haunting bestial howls’.
Kim Yo Jung warned that border guards in North Korea will ‘show no mercy’ if there is any ‘actual harm to our territorial security and our service persons’ safety’.
Interestingly, South Korean media then reported on Saturday (24 October) that Kim Jong Un has visited China – the place he was said to have perished in – in his first visit to the country for a year.
He is reported to have visited the city of Dandong after crossing a newly opened bridge between the countries.
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