North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to equip his air force with “new strategic military equipment” to counter perceived enemy provocations, as tensions along the inter-Korean border reach an unprecedented level following Pyongyang’s rejection of dialogue.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Kim’s pledge to strengthen the air force, stating it would be supplied with unspecified “new strategic military equipment” and assigned “important new missions.”
Kim delivered his remarks during a celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the North Korean Air Force last Friday. His daughter, Kim Ju Ae, widely considered a potential successor, also attended the event.
The North Korean leader further declared that the air force “must decisively suppress and control all forms of potential enemy espionage and military provocation.”
The announcement follows warnings from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who last Monday stated that an accidental military clash could occur at any moment.
Lee described North Korea’s actions, including the installation of triple barbed wire fences along the border, as “extreme acts.” He stressed that all communication channels between the two Koreas have been severed, with Pyongyang refusing all talks and contact.
South Korea had previously proposed military discussions to address “military demarcation lines” after reports of repeated incursions by North Korean forces, but its offers received no response.
North Korea has been actively pursuing military modernization, with a particular focus on its air capabilities, including its first live-fire air drills with military aircraft in May and the introduction of an early warning and air control aircraft system in March.