Kim Jong Un orders North Korean military to expand combat exercises

The meeting came amid signs North Korea is planning a military parade that may be an occasion to showcase the latest hardware from his growing nuclear weapons and missile programme that is brewing concern for the United States and its allies in Asia.

Kim Jong Un, centre, attends a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission in Pyongyang (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to expand its combat exercises and strengthen war preparedness as he looks to escalate an already provocative run in weapons demonstrations in the face of deepening tensions with its neighbours and Washington.

Kim presided over a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission on Monday and encouraged the armed forces to perform “ever-victorious feats” and display “matchless military strength” to open a new phase in development, the country’s official Korean Central News Agency reported on Tuesday.