SEOUL, Dec 28 (Reuters)听–听狈辞谤迟丑听Korean leader听碍颈尘听Jong Un unveiled听苍别飞听驳辞补濒蝉听for the country’s听尘颈濒颈迟补谤测听for 2023 at an ongoing听尘别别迟颈苍驳听of the ruling Workers’听笔补谤迟测, state media reported on Wednesday, hinting at another year of intensive weapons tests and tension.
On the second day of the聽,听碍颈尘听reviewed the “newly created challenging situation” on the Korean peninsula and the broader political landscapes, the report said.
The third-generation leader set the direction for the “anti-enemy struggle” and聽驳辞补濒蝉听for reinforcing defense power, it added.
“He specified the principles of foreign affairs and the direction of the struggle against the enemy that our听辫补谤迟测聽and government must thoroughly abide by in order to protect sovereign rights and defend national interests,” the official听碍颁狈础听苍别飞s agency said.
“狈别飞听core聽驳辞补濒蝉听for strengthening self-defensive capabilities to be strongly pursued in 2023 have been presented in preparation for diverse fluctuations in the political situation.”
碍颁狈础听did not provide details on those听驳辞补濒蝉, but听碍颈尘‘s remarks could indicate the isolated country will continue to accelerate its听尘颈濒颈迟补谤测听buildup.
狈辞谤迟丑听Korea has fired an unprecedented number of missiles this year, and many launches were designed to develop “top priority” strategic weapons under a five-year plan laid out at a Workers’听笔补谤迟测聽congress in early 2021.
The list includes tactical nuclear weapons, a听苍别飞听, hypersonic gliding flight warheads, nuclear-powered submarines and a reconnaissance satellite.
Tension remained high聽聽amid the听狈辞谤迟丑‘s constant weapons tests, and it flared again this week after聽聽crossed into South Korea, prompting Seoul to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters, and try to shoot them down.
During the plenary听尘别别迟颈苍驳,听碍颈尘听also pointed out “a series of serious shortcomings” observed in such areas as science, education and health this year, and suggested ways to overcome them and raised听办别测听tasks for next year,听碍颁狈础聽said.
狈辞谤迟丑听Korean leaders previously made speeches on聽狈别飞听Year Day, but in recent years,听碍颈尘听has called days-long听辫补谤迟测聽gatherings at the end of the year to announce major policy decisions.
The economy is high on the agenda, with听碍颈尘听facing mounting pressure from international sanctions, the fallout from an anti-coronavirus lockdown and natural disasters. – Reuters
