North Korean leader inspects strategic missile bases

North Korean state media reported on October 23 that leader Kim Jong Un inspected strategic missile bases, calling on the country's strategic rocket force to maintain a counterattack posture to cope with the growing threat.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), during the inspection, leader Kim Jong Un inspected the strategic deterrence readiness capabilities directly related to state security, including the functions and capabilities of missile launch facilities at missile bases and strategic missile combat missions.

However, the news did not say when the inspection trip took place.

Noting that the strategic rocket force is the "core" of North Korea's war deterrence, leader Kim Jong Un stressed an important principle of North Korea's defense strategy of "technically modernizing the entire armed forces with the strategic rocket force as a priority."

The North Korean leader also stressed the need to "further modernize and consolidate strategic missile bases and all bases should be fully ready to maintain an all-out counterattack capability to swiftly deliver a strategic counterattack on the enemy at any time and under any circumstances."