Pyongyang - Saba:
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the army to strengthen its combat capabilities through intensive training, stressing its ability to "immediately respond to war at any time and destroy the enemy in every battle."
The Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday that Kim made these remarks while supervising an artillery exercise by sub-units of the Korean People's Army the previous day, accompanied by senior party and defense officials.
The agency added that during the exercise, which aims to hone artillery capabilities, participating units were ordered to hit a specific naval target at a specific location within a limited time.
Kim expressed satisfaction after watching the maneuver and called for continued development of artillery tactics "in line with the harsh and intense environment of the ever-changing modern battlefield."
He was also quoted as saying that the military should strengthen intensive training in preparation for "real war," stressing that the strongest deterrent to war is "a clearer view of the sworn enemy."