Kim Jong Un Declares 2024 Years To Go To War Because Of US And South Korea's Actions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivered a speech during a visit to the country's naval command on August 27, 2023. (KCNA/Kyodo)

JAKARTA - Not only the increasing conflict between Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestinian, and Yemen-United States (US) towards the end of 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that 2024 would be an important year for war preparation and called the United States and South Korea's confrontational actions the culprit of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim said this during a brief talk with military commanders on Sunday, North Korean news agency KCNA reported, reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 1.

In the meeting that took place at the headquarters of the country's ruling Workers' Party, Kim reminded military commanders that the Korean Peninsula is increasingly on the verge of armed conflict, KCNA wrote on Monday.

Kim warned that if any country attacks or provokes North Korea, the North Korean military will retaliate with full force to destroy anyone attacking the country, KCNA reports.

In an important meeting with the ruling party held on Saturday, Kim stated that inter-Korean relations had completely turned into relations between two hostile countries as Seoul now considers Pyongyang "the main enemy."

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a new year's speech reiterated his determination to increase his country's defense under the US nuclear umbrella to protect South Korea from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

On Monday, Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged new year's messages.

The two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, which this year is exactly 75 years of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, KCNA said.

In his message, Kim expressed his willingness to further encourage exchange and bilateral visits in all fields, including politics, economy and culture, while Xi said Beijing was willing to open a new chapter in the friendship between the two countries.

Xi said Beijing would further strengthen strategic trust, and encourage exchange and cooperation with Pyongyang.

This step was taken to encourage advanced bilateral relations and achieve greater developments in line with the times, KCNA reported.