On a tour of weapons factories, Mr Kim says the country needs “overwhelming military power” and calls on suppliers to ramp up production of missiles and rocket launchers for frontline artillery units.
By Russell Hope, news reporter
Monday 14 August 2023 12:02, UK
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he wants his army to have the power to “surely annihilate” its enemies as he called on suppliers to deliver more missiles ahead of planned US-South Korea military exercises.
His country needs to have “overwhelming” force and be ready for war, he said, according to North Korean state media.
Mr Kim toured factories producing tactical missiles, missile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells on Friday and Saturday, KCNA said.
At a missile factory, he called on suppliers to “drastically boost” capacity to allow missiles to be mass produced for the frontline military units, KCNA said.
The demand to ramp up production of key arms comes ahead of the US and South Korea’s joint summer military drills, scheduled to start in a week, which Mr Kim sees as a dry-run for invading his country.
The allies say they have no intention of attacking North Korea.
Mr Kim was quoted as saying: “The qualitative levels of war preparations depend on the development of the munitions industry, and the factory has a tremendous responsibility in accelerating our military’s war preparations.
Kim Jong Un looks set to meet Vladimir Putin as Russia tries to buy North Korean weapons to bolster Ukraine campaign
North Korea stages simulation of ‘scorched earth’ nuclear strike on South Korea
Second North Korean spy satellite launch fails – as Kim Jong Un inspects a tractor factory
Mr Kim highlighted the “very urgent need” to “exponentially increase” production of large-calibre multiple rockets, KCNA said.
He said: “Our army must thoroughly secure overwhelming military power and solid readiness to handle any war at any time, so that the enemy does not dare to use force, and would be annihilated if it does.”
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The leader held a huge military parade through the North Korean capital last month, where he was joined by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese officials, as Pyongyang displayed new missiles built to hit targets in the US and South Korea.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Washington has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons, including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets and missiles for its invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea and Russia have denied any arms transactions.
KCNA separately said on Monday Mr Kim visited “typhoon-hit areas” after tropical storm Khanun swept across the Korean peninsula last week, flooding farmlands.
