North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un dismissed the military's top general, Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il. Pak had served in the role for about seven months only. He was replaced by General Ri Yong Gil. Ri has previously served as the country's defence minister as well as the top commander of its conventional troops.
According to a Reuters report, Kim made the comments at a meeting of the Central Military Commission. At the meeting, Kim also set a target for the expansion of weapons production capacity. And called for expansion of military drills, and preparations for the possibility of war.
At the meeting, plans for actions to deter North Korea’s enemies were discussed. KCNA, in the report, however, did not mention who the enemies were. South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency on Thursday reported that North Korea appears “focused on flexing its military muscle”.
On August 6, Kim Jong Un visited a weapons factory and called for more missile engines, artillery and other weapons to be built at a large scale. Kim reportedly pointed to Seoul in South Korea and the areas surrounding it. Kim Jong on July 27, showed off North Korea's latest weapons to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The US has alleged that North Korea has been providing arms including artillery shells, rockets and missiles, to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the claim.
The US and South Korea will hold military drills between August 21 and 24. Kim claims that these drills are a threat to North Korea's security and are conducted in preparation for a future invasion of the north. On September 9, North Korea will stage a parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.