DPRK's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has reported that Leader Kim Jong-un ordered his military to prepare intensely for potential war amid South Korea-US military drills.

During his visit to a military training base in the country’s western region, he looked into the military units' maneuvers and said they must "dynamically usher in a new heyday of intensifying the war preparations in line with the requirements of the prevailing situation."

"Our army should … steadily intensify the actual war drills aimed at rapidly improving its combat capabilities for perfect war preparedness," Kim stressed during the visit that coincided with ongoing joint military drills between the United States and South Korea, dubbed Freedom Shield, set to run until March 14.

The last Freedom Shield exercises were held less than a year ago in late August 2023, highlighting the ever-soaring US militarization of the region. 

The drills, which were launched on Monday, are expected to include 48 field exercises such as missile interception drills, bombing, air assault, and live-firing, with twice the number of troops compared with last year.

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Provocative exercises

Two days ago, the DPRK warned against "provocative large-scale joint military exercises," saying that the unprecedented drills would "amplify the unpredictability of the situation" in the Korean Peninsula, according to KCNA.

The unprecedented drills focus on simulating possible scenarios of war between the two Koreas and aim to prepare commanders from the US and South Korea for such a situation. 

The spokesperson dubbed the "war practice" as "frenzied", calling out South Korean officials as "puppets" of Washington. The official stressed that the drills show "more clearly who is the [entity] threatening humanity with nuclear weapons."

In January, Kim affirmed that Pyongyang intends to "annihilate" South Korea should its army violate the DPRK's sovereignty. 

"If the ROK dares attempt to use armed forces against the DPRK or threaten its sovereignty and security and such opportunity comes, we will have no hesitation in annihilating the ROK by mobilizing all means and forces in our hands," he said.

The DPRK has already test-fired multiple newly developed and upgraded weapons, including the anti-ship cruise missile and nuclear-capable cruise missiles. The list includes the nuclear-capable long-range Hawsal-2, the strategic Pulhwasal-3-31, and the anti-ship Padasuri-6. The country has also promised to respond swiftly and decisively to even the slightest encroachment into its sovereign territories by the South Korean military.

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