NKorea: Kim Calls for Increased War Readiness
The Facts
North Korean Pres. Kim Jong Un visited a military operations base in western North Korea on Wednesday and reportedly called for greater war readiness and capabilities amid intensifying defense drills between the US and South Korea.
The North Korean leader said the military must "steadily intensify the actual war drills" for "perfect war preparedness," according to the state’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The Spin
Pro-North Korea narrative
Kim is taking initiatives to bolster defense against hostile adversaries because he has no choice. He has repeatedly called for the US and South Korea to tamp down their aggressive military exercises to no avail — and their leaders even have the nerve to call North Korea the aggressors. As long as the US and South Korea are saber-rattling, Kim will make sure North Korea is as prepared as possible.
Anti-North Korea Narrative
Kim's aggressive actions and words are pushing for war between North Korea and the US. Pyongyang has celebrated its development of a nuclear weapons program and has conducted many missile tests in close proximity to South Korea. Now Kim's military is conducting “actual war drills” while claiming he's just worried about self-defense. The US and South Korea have had to bolster their militaries just in case Kim crosses the line.
