Kim Jong Un Urges War Preparations, Shakes Up Military Leadership

North Korean leader calls for increased war preparations, an uptick in weapons production, and the expansion of military drills

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attending a military parade held in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, at a railway station in Seoul on July 28, 2023. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to increase its war preparations and signed off on expanding combat operations of frontline units, state media said on Aug. 10.

Mr. Kim also replaced the military’s top general, Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il, after he served in his role for about seven months. State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that he was “dismissed” and didn’t elaborate.

Gen. Pak’s replacement is Gen. Ri Yong Gil, who previously held positions as the country’s defense minister and top commander of its conventional troops.

Mr. Kim made the comments at a meeting of the Central Military Commission, which was discussing plans to deter North Korea’s unnamed enemies, per KCNA.

At the meeting, he set targets for weapons production expansion, including missile engines and artillery, although specific details weren’t provided.

Mr. Kim’s latest comments reflect his sentiments shown last week when he toured the country’s key weapons factories—including a facility that produces launcher trucks for his intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the U.S. mainland. There, he called for more missile engines, artillery, and other weapons to be built to improve North Korea’s war readiness.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un holds a weapon during his three-day inspection from Aug. 3 to Aug. 5, 2023, at major munitions factories in North Korea. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

In 2019, then-President Donald Trump and Mr. Kim held disarmament discussions, but no agreement was finalized. Under President Joe Biden’s tenure, North Korea started tests for new nuclear missiles designed to target the United States.

More recently, North Korea has been ramping up tension with South Korea and the United States by testing various weapons, including its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has fired more than 100 missiles.

U.S. and South Korean intelligence authorities are closely monitoring North Korean weapons development activities and possibilities of provocations, Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a recent briefing.

The United States and South Korea are preparing for a large-scale combined military exercise, scheduled for Aug. 21 through Aug. 24. As with other joint U.S.–South Korea exercises, North Korea has perceived this as a security threat.

Mr. Kim had invited Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese ruling party officials to share center stage at a giant military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 27. There, the North Korean leader showcased his most powerful missiles designed to target South Korea and the United States.

North Korean state-run media released a photo of a rally held in Pyongyang, North Korea, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War's start, on June 25, 2023. The Epoch Times couldn't verify whether the photo was doctored. KCNA screenshot via The Epoch Times

The parade took place after Mr. Kim took Mr. Shoigu on a tour of a domestic arms exhibition, which demonstrated North Korea’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The United States has accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, but Russia and North Korea have denied those claims.

North Korea plans to hold another military parade on Sept. 9 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its government’s founding, marking the third such event in 2023.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.