Seoul: North Korea`s new leader Kim Jong-Un
has overseen an attack drill and ordered the military to
"mercilessly wipe out" their enemies in case of war,
Pyongyang`s official news agency said on Thursday.
The agency in a report dated yesterday did not say when
or where Kim launched the "combined strike drill" by the Army,
Navy and Air Force, which comes amid high tension with South
Korea.
Many of the country`s top military and civilian officials
attended the exercise, which featured a simulated attack by
planes, ships and artillery on enemy warships.
Kim was officially appointed supreme commander of the 1.2
million-member military after taking over the national
leadership following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il on
December 17.
His regime has agreed a surprise nuclear deal with the
United States but has taken a consistently hostile tone with
the South`s conservative government.
It has several times threatened a "sacred" war against
the South over perceived insults to the North`s ruling
dynasty, and Kim has toured a series of frontline military
units.
Kim accused the North`s enemies of awaiting a chance to
make a surprise attack, the news agency said. He ordered
troops "to mercilessly wipe out the enemies with arms of
justice and revenge once they go into action".
South Korean troops are also planning a major military
exercise. It will be held near the disputed Yellow Sea border
late this month to mark the second anniversary of the sinking
of one of Seoul`s warships.
The South accused its neighbour of torpedoing the
corvette on March 26, 2010, with the loss of 46 lives. The
North denied responsibility but shelled a South Korean border
island eight months later, killing four people.
South Korean and US troops are already conducting a
separate annual field exercise known as "Foal Eagle". The
North says such drills are rehearsals for invasion.
The South has ordered troops to stay vigilant before
dozens of national leaders including US President Barack Obama
gather for a Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul on March 26-27. (AFP)
PTI
