North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently spoke at a military conference in Pyongyang, urging his country’s armed forces to improve their readiness for war. Kim stressed the need to strengthen both political and military capabilities so that North Korea can effectively fight in a war. He pointed to rising tensions with the U.S., South Korea, and other countries, calling the Korean Peninsula the “world’s biggest hotspot.”
Kim emphasized the importance of preparing for actual combat and called on military leaders to focus on improving their war-fighting skills. This speech comes after North Korea sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine, which has sparked international criticism. Some North Korean troops have already engaged in combat near Ukraine’s border.
The North Korean government also held workshops for military officers to improve their battalion’s strength and war readiness. Meanwhile, Kim oversaw tests of suicide drones, which are becoming more popular worldwide. In response, leaders from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan condemned the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which they believe could escalate the conflict in Ukraine even further.
President Biden has recently allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to target deep inside Russia, a shift in U.S. policy partly due to the involvement of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s war efforts. The situation is adding to the instability in the region.
