Smiling Kim observes drills within striking range of Seoul

A SMILING Kim Jong-un watched as a major artillery drill was conducted within striking distance of the South Korean capital.

This year Pyongyang has declared Seoul its “principal enemy”, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and threatened war over “even 0.001 mm” of territorial infringement.

Wearing a leather jacket and appearing jubilant alongside his generals, the North Korean leader urged his soldiers to “vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilisation” to “take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes” in the event of an actual war.

The remarks came after the United States and South Korea started their annual spring military exercises on Monday with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023.

The North’s live-fire drills on Thursday involved border units “that put the enemy’s capital in their striking range”, Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency said, referring to Seoul.

Seoul’s military also confirmed the North had carried out live-fire artillery drills involving rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers in the western port city of Nampho.

“Our military is closely monitoring North Korea’s signs of provocation ... while maintaining a firm joint defence posture,” Seoul’s joint chiefs of staff said yesterday.

“If North Korea commits a provocation, we will punish overwhelmingly and firmly.”

On Tuesday North Korea warned that South Korea and the US would pay a “dear price” over the large-scale military exercises, urging the allies to cease “frantic war drills”.

Kim Jong-un, right, looks pleased with the live firing drill near the North Korean coast as he tells troops to act mercilessly in the event of a war with the South