North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said this week that he has no interest in avoiding armed conflict with South Korea, state media reported.
According to state media KCNA, the dictator made the remarks while touring a military factory to learn about production, where he referred to the country's southern neighbor as “our main enemy.”
According to state-run newspapers, Kim said his government “never intends to unilaterally bring about major events through overwhelming force on the Korean peninsula, but we also do not intend to avoid war.”
Furthermore, “If South Korea dares to use force against North Korea or threatens its sovereignty and security, and such an opportunity arises, we will mobilize all means and military force to annihilate South Korea.'' I won't hesitate to do so.”
International cooperation between the two Koreas has collapsed in recent weeks after Kim regime forces conducted a series of shelling attacks on the buffer zone between the two Koreas, ostensibly for combat training.
South Korean intelligence estimates that about 200 shells were fired into the area on Friday, and another 60 on Saturday.
South Korea's Ministry of Defense reportedly fired around 400 rounds in response to the provocation.
A 2018 agreement between Seoul and North Korea established a buffer zone where artillery fire and military training are prohibited.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Monday that it would resume training in the area following North Korean artillery fire, saying restrictions on the area “no longer exist.”
