North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made headlines today as he dismissed his top general and called for intensified war preparations “in an offensive way.” During a meeting of the Central Military Commission, Kim was seen discussing “major military actions” against South Korea, pointing at maps and images while holding a cigarette.
The agenda of the meeting, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), focused on making full war preparations and ensuring perfect military readiness. This comes as Seoul and Washington prepare for joint drills that North Korea views as invasion rehearsals, prompting warnings of overwhelming action in response.
As part of the shake-up, Kim replaced Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il with Vice Marshal Ri Yong Gil. While no further details were provided, experts suggest that Pak may have been dismissed due to insufficient competence in military operations. Ri, who has previously held this position, is seen as the most suitable replacement.
During the meeting, Kim also called for the mass-production of various weapons and equipment and urged the active conduct of actual war drills to effectively operate newly deployed weapons. He reached an important conclusion on further stepping up the war preparations of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) in an offensive manner.
Analysts believe that the latest KCNA report is North Korea’s own response to the upcoming joint military training between Seoul and Washington. The report includes photos of Kim pointing to what is believed to be a map of Seoul, signaling a message to the South with a threatening action.
The meeting also discussed preparations for a massive parade to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea’s founding on September 9. Last month, Pyongyang held a major military parade with a large display of nuclear-capable systems, coinciding with a defense expo where advanced weaponry was showcased.
As tensions rise between North Korea and its neighboring countries, the international community will closely watch the developments and the impact on regional stability.
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