North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has watched combined tactical exercises by special operations forces and tank units, stressing that the most important task for the country's armed forces is to fully prepare for war, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, quoted by BTA.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the combined tactical exercises by special operations forces and a demonstration of joint fire strikes by tank units took place the day before.
"Our revolutionary armed forces are now responsible for many fronts, but the most important among them is the anti-imperialist class front, and carrying out full preparations for war is the most key task," Kim said, according to KCNA.
Kim appears to have invoked the concept of the anti-imperialist class front to justify the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia in support of Moscow's war against Ukraine.
Photos released by state media show North Korean soldiers in camouflage suits operating drones. South Korea's spy agency has previously said it has found signs that North Korean troops stationed in Russia are learning drone operations and tactics from Russian forces.
Last month, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it had sent troops to Russia to fight against Ukrainian forces. During a visit to the Russian embassy in Pyongyang last week, Kim said the North's participation in the war was "justified", describing it as an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defense treaty with Moscow.