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North Korean leader inspects front-line military unit off east coast

Kim Jong-un underscored the necessity to deploy more powerful firepower striking means on the Sin islet in order to implement military strategic policy on wiping out the enemies coming from waters

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ТАSS/EPA/RODONG SINMUN

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

© ТАSS/EPA/RODONG SINMUN

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North Korea warns of toughest measures in response to US-South Korean drills

PYONGYANG, March 12. /TASS/. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a front-line military unit off the country's east coast, the North’s official news agency reported on Thursday.

The leader inspected a defense company which defends "the strategically very important" Sin islet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying.

Kim underscored "the necessity to deploy more powerful firepower striking means on the islet in order to thoroughly implement the party's military strategic policy on completely wiping out in a sea the enemies coming in attack from waters," according to the report.

The North Korean leader said he was very satisfied with the "work style and zeal of the commanding officers of the company" saying that "success in military and political affairs depends on the officers of the relevant unit."

The inspection comes as the United States and South Korea hold large-scale drills — Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. Pyongyang believes that as a result of this demonstration of force the situation in the area of the Korean peninsula is "on the brink of war."

In early January, North Korea said it was ready to introduce a moratorium on nuclear tests should Washington and Seoul shelve their plans to hold the regular massive drills.

However, the US government has rejected Pyongyang’s initiative saying it is an "implicit threat." Washington said the US-South Korea drills are "defensive" while Pyongyang’s possible plans for new nuclear tests are a "violation of the UN resolutions."

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