North Korea has strengthened its connections with Russia, receiving technical support aimed at bolstering the North's military capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed its military, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons sector to expedite war preparations in response to what he termed unprecedented adversarial moves by the US, as per state media reports on Thursday.
Addressing the policy course for the upcoming year at a pivotal gathering of the nation's ruling party on Wednesday, Kim also pledged an extension of strategic collaboration with "anti-imperialist independent" nations, relayed news agency KCNA.
"Kim outlined the aggressive tasks for the People's Army, munitions industry, nuclear weapons, and civil defense sectors to further hasten the preparations for war," KCNA stated.
Amid Washington's allegations of Pyongyang supplying military equipment to Moscow for its conflict with Ukraine, and Russia aiding North Korea's technological advancements in its military capabilities, North Korea has been broadening its connections, including with Russia.
Additionally, Kim outlined economic objectives for the coming year during the meeting, labeling it a "decisive year" for fulfilling the country's five-year development blueprint, as per the report.
"He specified critical tasks to be vigorously pursued in key industrial sectors for the new year" and urged for "sustaining agricultural output at a high level."
North Korea has grappled with severe food shortages in recent decades, including a famine in the 1990s, often exacerbated by natural calamities. The closure of borders during the Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated food security, according to international experts.
While crop production in North Korea reportedly saw a year-on-year increase in 2023 due to favorable weather conditions, an official from Seoul cautioned that the yield remained significantly insufficient to address the nation's persistent food shortages.
The 9th plenary meeting of the 8th central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea commenced on Tuesday, concluding a year marked by North Korea entrenching its nuclear policy in its constitution, launching a reconnaissance satellite, and testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
These prolonged sessions involving party and government officials have served as platforms for significant policy declarations in recent times. Previously, state media had published Kim's New Year's Day address.
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