Masha Midhath   28 December 2023 - 07:12 PM
According to state media on Thursday, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un ordered his nation's armed forces, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons sector to speed up war preparations in response to what he described as the US's "unprecedently aggressive moves."

Speaking on the policy directions for the new year at a key meeting of the country’s ruling party on Wednesday, Kim also said Pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with “anti-imperialist independent” countries, news agency KCNA reported.

“He (Kim) set forth the militant tasks for the People’s Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons, and civil defense sectors to further accelerate the war preparations,” KCNA said.

North Korea has been expanding ties with Russia, among others, as Washington accuses Pyongyang of supplying military equipment to Moscow for use in its war with Ukraine. At the same time, Russia provides technical support to help the North advance its military capabilities.