North Korean leader orders military to increase combat exercises

ANKARA (AA) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to increase combat exercises amid ongoing tension in the region, state-run media reported on Tuesday.

Presiding over the fourth enlarged meeting of the Eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Monday, Kim discussed the situation in the region, Korean Central News Agency reported.

“The issue of constantly expanding and intensifying the operation and combat drills of the KPA (Korean People's Army) to cope with the prevailing situation and more strictly perfecting the preparedness for war (was discussed and) relevant decisions were adopted," said the state-run media.

The meeting was attended by senior military and civilian officials, the agency reported.

However, the state-run media didn't share more details about the decisions taken in the meeting.

The latest development came after a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup in Seoul last week, during which the two sides agreed to bolster the level and scale of this year's combined military exercises and training.

Washington and Seoul also agreed to work closely together in the future to ensure that US strategic assets are deployed in a timely and coordinated manner.

Tensions on Korean Peninsula escalated late last year when North Korea launched at least 60 missiles while South Korea and the US held joint military drills.

This month, the US and South Korea will also hold the Deterrence Strategy Committee table-top exercises.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid