During his recent remarks, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the expansion of the country’s war deterrence capabilities in a “more practical and offensive” way, reported the state media, on Tuesday (April 11). This was said in the context of what Kim has called “frantic” aggression by the United States and South Korea.&nbsp;

The report by Pyongyang’s state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said that these remarks were made on Monday when Kim attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ways to “cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression.”&nbsp;

This also comes as North Korea has tested a record number of missiles and weapons, since the beginning of this year, including the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-claims-to-have-tested-another-nuclear-capable-underwater-drone-580303">recently tested</a> nuclear-capable underwater drones, claimed the state media. Meanwhile, the US and South Korea have been conducting military drills more frequently, which led North Korea, days earlier, to accuse Washington of escalating the tensions in the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-us-south-korea-drills-driving-tensions-in-korean-peninsula-to-brink-of-nuclear-war-579606">North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war'</a>

During his remarks, on Monday, Kim also ordered that the country’s deterrence capabilities be strengthened with “increasing speed” and in a “more practical and offensive” manner, reported the KCNA. It added, that the meeting also discusses “practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that no means and ways of counteraction are available to the enemy.”

North Korea cuts communication with South Korea amid drills with US

The South Korean Unification Ministry said on Monday that North Korea has not responded to their regularly held calls, the fourth straight day, on the inter-Korean liaison communications channel. The calls in question usually take&nbsp;place between 9:00 am (local time) and 5:00 pm (local time).&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/n-korea-fires-two-short-range-missiles-antagonised-by-us-south-korea-military-drills-576047">North Korea fires two short-range missiles, antagonised by US-South Korea military drills</a>

In a news-briefing spokesman Koo Byoung-sam told reporters that Seoul is “weighing the possibility of a unilateral cut-off” by Pyongyang, adding that this is the first time since October 2021 that all inter-Korean military lines or liaison calls have stopped for more than a day, reported Bloomberg.&nbsp;

The communication lines were first opened in 2018 when the two countries set up hotlines after a series of summits aimed at decreasing tensions in the region, however, this is reportedly not the first time that North Korea has shut the communications links in displays of anger. The line was restored in July 2021 following North Korea’s shutdown for nearly a year over South Korean activists sending leaflets critical of Kim’s regime across the border by balloon, as per Bloomberg.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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During his recent remarks, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the expansion of the country’s war deterrence capabilities in a “more practical and offensive” way, reported the state media, on Tuesday (April 11).

During his recent remarks, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the expansion of the country’s war deterrence capabilities in a “more practical and offensive” way, reported the state media, on Tuesday (April 11). This was said in the context of what Kim has called “frantic” aggression by the United States and South Korea. The report by Pyongyang’s state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said that these remarks were made on Monday when Kim attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ways to “cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression.” This also comes as North Korea has tested a record number of missiles and weapons, since the beginning of this year, including the recently tested nuclear-capable underwater drones, claimed the state media. Meanwhile, the US and South Korea have been conducting military drills more frequently, which led North Korea, days earlier, to accuse Washington of escalating the tensions in the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war. ALSO READ | North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war' During his remarks, on Monday, Kim also ordered that the country’s deterrence capabilities be strengthened with “increasing speed” and in a “more practical and offensive” manner, reported the KCNA. It added, that the meeting also discusses “practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that no means and ways of counteraction are available to the enemy.” North Korea cuts communication with South Korea amid drills with US The South Korean Unification Ministry said on Monday that North Korea has not responded to their regularly held calls, the fourth straight day, on the inter-Korean liaison communications channel. The calls in question usually take place between 9:00 am (local time) and 5:00 pm (local time). ALSO READ | North Korea fires two short-range missiles, antagonised by US-South Korea military drills In a news-briefing spokesman Koo Byoung-sam told reporters that Seoul is “weighing the possibility of a unilateral cut-off” by Pyongyang, adding that this is the first time since October 2021 that all inter-Korean military lines or liaison calls have stopped for more than a day, reported Bloomberg. The communication lines were first opened in 2018 when the two countries set up hotlines after a series of summits aimed at decreasing tensions in the region, however, this is reportedly not the first time that North Korea has shut the communications links in displays of anger. The line was restored in July 2021 following North Korea’s shutdown for nearly a year over South Korean activists sending leaflets critical of Kim’s regime across the border by balloon, as per Bloomberg. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

North Korea’s Kim calls for more ‘practical, offensive’ war deterrence to counter US, South Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday (February 27) opened a key political conference addressing agriculture where he urged officials to devise a “fundamental transformation” for production in the sector, state media reported. The conference suggests that the country’s food shortage is worsening.&nbsp;

Kim also highlighted the importance of stable agricultural production while addressing the seventh enlarged plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The North Korean leader also said that reaching grain production targets should be the top priority.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-food-crisis-leader-kim-jong-un-asks-people-to-eat-less-until-2025-424602">North Korea food crisis: Leader Kim Jong Un asks people to 'eat less' until 2025</a>

The high-level meeting with senior party officials of the ruling WPK which began on Sunday reviewed the last year’s work on state goals. The state media also said that the plenary meeting will identify immediate and important tasks on issues related to agriculture and economic development.&nbsp;

The KCNA report did not elaborate on the kind of measures which will be implemented, but the North Korean leader has said that they need to take place in the next few years. According to experts on the subject, North Korea is currently reliant on collective farming, which typically includes a number of small farmers producing crops with joint labour, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/even-as-the-nation-reels-from-hunger-north-korean-state-paper-calls-outside-aid-poisoned-candy-564875">Even as the nation reels from hunger, North Korean state paper calls outside aid 'poisoned candy'</a>

Multiple reports from the South Korean media have claimed that people in North Korea are dying of hunger. However, not only are they unconfirmed but experts also believe that there is no indication of mass deaths or famine in Pyongyang. While the extent of food shortages in North Korea remains unclear, a US-based website 38 North Project claimed that food insecurity has been the worst in the country since the widespread famine in the 1990s.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reports-of-famine-in-north-korea-as-bad-as-1990s-amid-mounting-food-insecurity-426894">Reports of famine in North Korea as bad as 1990s amid mounting food insecurity</a>

Pyongyang’s pursuit of self-sufficiency has meant that almost all the grain is produced domestically which has left the country vulnerable, said the 38 North Project, reported Reuters. Last week, North Korea’s official newspaper said that relying on external aid to cope with food shortages equals taking “poisoned candy”. This comes as the country finds itself amid mounting international sanctions and supply shortages due to COVID-19-related restrictions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday (February 27) opened a key political conference addressing agriculture where he urged officials to devise a “fundamental transformation” for production in the sector, state media reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday (February 27) opened a key political conference addressing agriculture where he urged officials to devise a “fundamental transformation” for production in the sector, state media reported. The conference suggests that the country’s food shortage is worsening. Kim also highlighted the importance of stable agricultural production while addressing the seventh enlarged plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The North Korean leader also said that reaching grain production targets should be the top priority. ALSO READ | North Korea food crisis: Leader Kim Jong Un asks people to 'eat less' until 2025 The high-level meeting with senior party officials of the ruling WPK which began on Sunday reviewed the last year’s work on state goals. The state media also said that the plenary meeting will identify immediate and important tasks on issues related to agriculture and economic development. The KCNA report did not elaborate on the kind of measures which will be implemented, but the North Korean leader has said that they need to take place in the next few years. According to experts on the subject, North Korea is currently reliant on collective farming, which typically includes a number of small farmers producing crops with joint labour, reported Reuters. ALSO READ | Even as the nation reels from hunger, North Korean state paper calls outside aid 'poisoned candy' Multiple reports from the South Korean media have claimed that people in North Korea are dying of hunger. However, not only are they unconfirmed but experts also believe that there is no indication of mass deaths or famine in Pyongyang. While the extent of food shortages in North Korea remains unclear, a US-based website 38 North Project claimed that food insecurity has been the worst in the country since the widespread famine in the 1990s. ALSO READ | Reports of famine in North Korea as bad as 1990s amid mounting food insecurity Pyongyang’s pursuit of self-sufficiency has meant that almost all the grain is produced domestically which has left the country vulnerable, said the 38 North Project, reported Reuters. Last week, North Korea’s official newspaper said that relying on external aid to cope with food shortages equals taking “poisoned candy”. This comes as the country finds itself amid mounting international sanctions and supply shortages due to COVID-19-related restrictions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

North Korean leader Kim holds rare meeting on agriculture amid reports of food shortage in country

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported on Tuesday (December 27), at a venue he has often used to announce major policy decisions marking the New Year.

North Korea's Kim kicks off key party meeting ahead of New Year