Kim Jong-un has ordered his party to step up their war preparations (Picture: KCNA)
When you’re one of the world’s most famous dictators, your New Years resolutions have to be pretty spectacular.
And for Kim Jong-un he seems to have stuck with the tried and tested promise to ‘prepare for war’.
Everyone’s favourite cheese-loving despot has lashed out at the US for what he has called ‘unprecedented confrontational moves’.
As a result, state media in North Korea has shared with victims of his oppressive regime his orders for the military, and munitions and nuclear weapons sectors.
At a New Year policy meeting, he also said he expects closer ties with ‘anti-imperialist’ independent countries.
On Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a frontline military unit in the eastern county of Yeoncheon.
He called for an immediate retaliation to any provocation from North Korea. Mr Yoon said: ‘I urge you to immediately and firmly crush the enemy’s will for a provocation on the spot.’
At the New Year briefing, Mr Kim said 2024 will be a ‘decisive year’ for the economy as part of the country’s five-year development plan.
KCNA added: ‘He… clarified the important tasks for the new year to be dynamically pushed forward in the key industrial sectors [and called for] the stabilising of agricultural production on a high level.’
South Korea has raised concerns about the North Korean action (Picture: KCNA)
North Korea is said to be facing food shortages (Picture: Getty Images)
Mr Kim’s stance follows Washington accusing Pyongyang of supplying military equipment to Moscow for use in its war with Ukraine.
US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby claimed on December 14 that the dealings had taken place.
Russia is believed to have been providing technical support in exchange for helping North Korea to advance its military capabilities.
Mr Kirby said: ‘We condemn [North Korea] for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians and further Russia’s illegitimate war.’
North Korean soldiers stand on armored vehicles with rocket launchers as they parade in Pyongyang (Picture: AP)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Korean People’s Army Air Force headquarters on the occasion of Aviation Day in North Korea on December 1 (Picture: AP)
Mr Kim is looking to address the serious food shortages that have hit North Korea over the years, including the devastating famine in the 1990s.
It has been noted by commentators that the country’s food security has been weakened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
North Korea has suffered serious food shortages in recent decades, including famine in the 1990s, often as a result of natural disasters.
The country did enjoy an improved crop output in 2023 but South Korean officials have said that the amount is far below what is needed.
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