Kim Jong-Il inspects joint exercise of NKorean armed forces.

17/1 Tass 48

PYONGYANG, January 17 (Itar-Tass) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
inspected a joint exercise of the North Korean land troops, navy and Air
Force, reported on Sunday the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) without
pinpointing a place and a date of manoeuvres.
The agency's article notes that Kim observed how air units, warships
and land artillery crushed positions of a "supposed" enemy with
"annihilating firepower". "The present exercise showed the firm
determination of the Korean People's Army to smash an enemy with one blow
if it dares to grab a jot of our sacred land," the KCNA emphasised.
Kim evaluated high the results of shelling and praised troops for
their readiness "to rebuff any sudden enemy invasion and to protect the
socialist Homeland". The head of state emphasised that the Korean People's
Army, apart from being strong morally, is armed with sophisticated
offensive and defensive weapons.
The North Korean leader expressed confidence that men and officers of
the Korean army "will reliably defend, in future too, security of the
country and happiness of people".
The KCNA reported that along with the country's leader, the exercise
was monitored by two deputy chairmen of the National Defence Commission Ri
Yong-mu and O Kuk-ryol. The Commission headed by Kim, is the supreme body
of power in the people's republic. Foreign observers noted that on Friday,
the National Defence Commission published a statement, threatening to
declare "a sacred war" on the South Korean leadership.
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