• North Korea has decided to take “significant practical” war deterrence measures.
• The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission.
• All such drills enrage North Korea, which sees them as practise for an invasion.

North Korea has decided to take “significant practical” war deterrence measures, according to state media, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military exercises in five years.

The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission presided over by Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader.

“The meeting discussed and adopted the important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent,”.

The report stated that the move was made to “deal with the current situation in which the war provocations of the United States and South Korea have crossed the red line,” but did not elaborate on the measures.

The “Freedom Shield” exercises, scheduled to begin Monday, will focus on the “changing security environment” caused by North Korea’s redoubled aggression, according to the allies.

All such drills enrage North Korea, which sees them as practise for an invasion.

The country has stated that its nuclear and missile programmes are for self-defense.

Analysts believe North Korea will use the drills as an excuse to carry out more provocations, such as missile tests and possibly a nuclear test.

According to reports, Kim ordered North Korea’s military to ramp up preparations for a “real war” on Friday.

Kim told soldiers to be ready for “two strategic missions, that is, first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war” while inspecting a fire assault drill.

Washington and Seoul have increased defence cooperation in response to North Korea’s growing military and nuclear threats, which has conducted increasingly provocative banned weapons tests in recent months.

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