The North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un addressed fellow communists at a session of the Workers' Party, where he shared a list of ‘terrifying new year resolutions’, Metro reports.
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Workers' Party's plenary meeting
Jong-un addressed the party congress on the second day by reviewing security challenges on the Korean peninsula.
As reported by Metro, experts believe Jong-uncould be planning to grow his nuclear arsenal and obtain high-tech weapons systems 'such as multi-warhead missiles, a spy satellite, advanced drones and more agile long-range weapons.'
According the official Korean Central News Agency, the leader 'set forth new key goals for bolstering up the self-reliant defence capability to be pushed ahead with in 2023'.
Historic testing, high tensions
The New Year goals of Jong-un come after months of high tensions with South Korea and a record year for the highest number of missile tests conducted by North Korea, VOA reports.
It also comes in a particularly difficult week for authorities in Seoul which reported on Monday that North Korean drones had violated their territory.
In response, South Korea scrambled two fighter jets to destroy the drones, but one of the jets was involved in an accident and crashed, while the two pilots were able to survive by escaping before the crash, The Guardian reports.
South Korea’s military issued an apology for failing to shoot down the drones, while President Yoon Suk Yeol demanded an upgrade of the country’s air defences and new investments in high-tech stealth drones to better monitor its neighbour.
Sources used:
-Metro: ‘Kim Jong Un has made some terrifying New Year’s resolutions’
-VOA: ‘North Korea's Kim Unveils New Military Goals, State Media Says’
-The Guardian: ‘South Korea scrambles jets as North Korean drones ‘violate airspace’
