Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has convened a meeting with army commanders and called for reinforcement of front-line units on the southern border, state media reported Monday. Kim made the call Sunday in a meeting with the commanding officers of the entire armed forces, stressing that advancement of military technology at key units, including front-line forces, plays a critical role in effective deterrence of war.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea's U-17 women's football team has received a grand welcome ceremony in Pyongyang upon its return following a win at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U17 Women's Asian Cup. The team was received by government and party officials the previous day at Pyongyang International Airport, where players were presented with flower garlands and bouquets before parading through the city on a flower-decorated bus.
Furthermore, North Korea's state media on Thursday briefly reported on its women's football club's advancement to the final of a top Asian club tournament, after beating a South Korean rival. In a short dispatch, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the semifinal between "the Naegohyang Team of the DPRK and the Suwon Team of the ROK" took place in South Korea the previous day, using the acronym of each country's official name.
In addition, North Korea on Thursday warned of countermeasures against Washington's recent approval of arms sales to Seoul, denouncing it as part of a "reckless military buildup." In a commentary carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang said the buildup would incite it to further strengthen its military deterrent, vowing to redouble efforts to bolster its defense capabilities.