Kim Jong-un Oversees Drone Attack Drills as South Korea and US Preparefor Defense Talks
Seoul, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the testing of new drones with attack capabilities, according to a report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August26th. The report stated that Kim visited the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense on August 24th, wherehe supervised the drones’ performance in attacking designated targets.
The KCNA report emphasized the drones’ ability to strike targets across land and sea, highlighting their potential for offensive operations. It also noted that the drones successfully flew along predetermined routesand accurately identified and destroyed their designated targets.
This latest development comes as North Korea continues to bolster its military capabilities, particularly in the area of unmanned aerial vehicles. Earlier this year, North Korea unveiled a new drone capable of carrying apayload of up to 250 kg, raising concerns among neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States are gearing up for the seventh round of negotiations for the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which governs the cost-sharing of the US military presence in South Korea. The talksare scheduled to take place in Seoul from August 27th to 29th.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official stated that the government will continue to advocate for a fair and reasonable contribution to the defense costs, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable US military presence in the region and strengthening the South Korea-US alliance.
The upcoming negotiations come at a crucial time, as the US presidential election is scheduled for November. Both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement before the election, although it remains uncertain whether a deal can be reached within the timeframe.
In other news, the South Korean National Assembly’s Budget and Accounts Committee revealed that the Presidential Office and the Presidential Security Service spent over 100 billion won (approximately $77 million) on labor costs in 2023, marking a record high in the past decade. This revelation has sparked criticism, with some questioning the necessity of such high spending.
Meanwhile, BTS member Suga (Min Yoongi) issued a handwritten apology on the fan community platform Weverse on August 25th, expressing remorse for his recent DUI incident. Suga acknowledged his responsibility to set a positive example for fans and admitted that his actions had tarnished the reputation of BTS and caused hardshipfor his fellow members.
The news of Kim Jong-un’s drone testing and the upcoming US-South Korea defense talks highlights the ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula. While North Korea continues to enhance its military capabilities, South Korea and the US are working to maintain a strong alliance and deter potential threats. Theupcoming defense negotiations will be crucial in determining the future of the US military presence in South Korea and the broader security dynamics in the region.
【来源】https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20240826001200881?section=society/index&input=rss
Views: 3