DPRK adopts 'important practical' war deterrence measures: State media

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The DPRK (North Korea) has decided to take "important practical" war deterrence measures, state media reported Sunday, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military drills in five years.

The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party's military commission headed by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The meeting discussed and adopted the important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent," KCNA said.

The report indicated that the move was aimed at "coping with the present situation in which the war provocations of the U.S. and south Korea are reaching the red line" but did not elaborate on the measures.

South Korea and the United States are scheduled to start the so-called "Freedom Shield" exercises on Monday, focusing on the "changing security environment" due to what they called the DPRK's "redoubled aggression".

On its part, the DPRK views such exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. The country has reiterated that its nuclear weapons and missile programs are for self-defense.

On Friday, KCNA reported that Kim ordered the DPRK's military to intensify drills for a "real war".

While inspecting a fire assault drill, the DPRK leader told soldiers to be prepared for "two strategic missions, that is, first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war," according to KCNA.

This came after Seoul's military reported on Thursday that the DPRK had fired a short-range ballistic missile.

Last week, the DPRK's Foreign Ministry called on the United Nations to urge a halt to joint military drills by Seoul and Washington, state media reported on Sunday.

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