North Korea’s Kim visits army unit that shelled South 2010

18 August 2012 | 18:29 Code : 1905642 Latest Headlines


North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a front line military detachment, state media reported, and reminded troops of their duty to fight a "sacred war" against any provocation by South Korea.

His visit, and his recent resumption of "field guidance" to military units, precede annual war games by allies South Korea and the United States. The military drills are scheduled to begin on Monday and continue until Aug. 31.

State news agency KCNA said Kim, who came to power in December 2011 after the death of his father, visited the same artillery unit that launched a deadly attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong island near the western sea border two years ago.

Kim inspected the unit on Mu island, which KCNA said was "stationed in the biggest hotspot in the southernmost part of the southwest front". The report was released on Friday and was monitored in the South on Saturday.