North Korea Slams 'Beheading Operation' From 'Enemy' As Kim Jong Un Calls For 'Practical, Offensive' War Deterrents

Kim Jong Un asked senior military officials to improve North Korea's war deterrence more practically and aggressively.

What Happened: In a meeting focused on Pyongyang's preparations for potential conflicts, the North Korean dictator urged officials to boost the country's war deterrent to "cope with the escalating moves of the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression."

This came after the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party held a meeting on Monday amid increasing tensions in the Korean Peninsula due to Washington and Seoul’s acceleration of joint military exercises.

See Also: Kim Jong Un’s Regime Warns US And South Korea Of Nuclear Deterrents Again: ‘Not Empty Talk’

The leader also "discussed practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that no means and ways of counteraction are available to the enemy." According to the state media, the "frantic" drills simulated an "all-out war against" North Korea and intended to seize control of the country and eliminate its leaders.

"Recently the enemy openly let out even warlike words such as the “occupation of Pyongyang” and “beheading operation” and staged the frantic large-scale joint military drill simulating an all-out war against the DPRK."

Meanwhile, the South Korean government on Monday said the phone calls to North Korea went unanswered for the fourth day in a row, implying that the country appears to have cut its communication channels with its neighbor. 

Why It Matters: For a long time, Kim's isolated nation has been against the joint military drills by Washington and Seoul and has claimed that they serve as practice runs for a possible invasion. While the U.S. and South Korea defended their stance and said the military exercises were defensive. The allies have argued that these drills’ enlargement is crucial to respond to Pyongyang's increasing nuclear and missile programs.

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