Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected major munitions factories on January 8 and 9 to learn about the production of weapons and equipment.

He was accompanied by Jo Chun Ryong, Kim Jae Ryong, O Su Yong, Kang Sun Nam, Kim Jong Sik, Kim Yo Jong, Jang Chang Ha and other senior officials of the Party Central Committee and armed forces organs.

With boundless trust and gratitude, leading officials and workers of major munitions factories greeted the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visiting the factories to encourage them out in the struggle for attaining the huge production goal for the new year.

Making the rounds of the factories, Kim Jong Un learned in detail about the production of weapons and equipment.

He highly appreciated the factories for having turned out in the patriotic struggle for the successful attainment of the munitions production goal, set forth at the Eighth Congress of the WPK and the Seventh Enlarged Meeting of the Eighth Central Military Commission of the WPK, and for the sustained development of the country's munitions industry to step up the production of major weapon systems on a full scale and actively introduce new technologies into production.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the factories have successfully carried out the plan for deploying new type weapons and equipment to the first-line large combined units and major missile units.

Saying with high appreciation that the fierce flames of struggle for implementing the Party's policies and innovations in production created at the core munitions factories of the country are a clear fruition of the remarkably high mental power, wisdom and enthusiasm of our officials and workers defending the munitions industry front, he called upon the major munitions factories to bring about greater leaping progress in the struggle for bolstering up the defence capabilities in 2024, too, by further elevating the surged spirit, mindful of their important mission and duty of taking charge of the main front of modernizing the Korean People's Army and bolstering up the self-reliant military capabilities.

He stressed that the munitions industry should permanently hold fast to and positively hasten the attainment of the goal for establishment of advanced production processes, constant expansion of production capacity and innovative modernization to produce more weapons and equipment in conformity with the development-oriented demand of the steadily changing and developing national defence science and industry in the new century and the objective and demand for modernization of our army.

Pointing out some shortcomings recently revealed in the organization of munitions production, he indicated the task for rationally and effectively readjusting the main production indices of munitions factories in a long-term view and on the principle of specialization, independence, consideration of factory capacity and priority over project for implementing the immediate policy.

Reiterating that it is necessary to have a correct understanding of the strategic importance of the production of major weapons and equipment prioritized by the Party, he underscored the need to carry on the economic organization and production guidance in a militant and revolutionary way so as to make this year a year of radical turn in boosting the country's preparations for war.

He made an appraisal of the security environment of the DPRK and the regional situation, stating the necessity and validity of the sustained store of incomparably overwhelming strength.

Saying that the historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea which has pursued a history of vicious confrontation with bloodshot eyes to overthrow our government and social system for nearly 80 years, he stressed that our state should recognize this unavoidable and irrevocable reality as it is and properly settle the historic problem of actively coping with the new phase of change and thoroughly countering everything.

Predicating that the ROK clan is our principal enemy, he said what the DPRK should prioritize in the relations with the hostile state running high fever in arms buildup while inciting the confrontation posture with the former is to bolster up the military capabilities for self-defence and the nuclear war deterrent first of all.

He said that we would by no means unilaterally bring a great event by the overwhelming strength in the Korean peninsula but we have no intention of avoiding a war as well. If the ROK dares attempt to use armed forces against the DPRK or threaten its sovereignty and security and such opportunity comes, we will have no hesitation in annihilating the ROK by mobilizing all means and forces in our hands, he said, affirming that we have such will, forces and capabilities and will continue to expand and strengthen them without delay in the future, too.

He noted that the DPRK will invariably take its vivid action based on the principle of righteous struggle, unless the gangster-like ruling quarters of the ROK realizes the mistake of the self-destructive anti-DPRK confrontation policy, which is running counter to the desire of mankind for peace and bringing misfortune on itself, and completely gives it up. And he set forth the revolutionary policies to be permanently held and carried out by the munitions industry field in more strictly perfecting the country's war preparedness.

All the workers in the munitions industry, who have realized the steadfast will of Kim Jong Un reflecting the principle of resolute counteraction against the enemies and the revolutionary stand of the WPK and the DPRK government, are filled with the ardent enthusiasm for firmly defending the sacred revolutionary cause of Juche by surely attaining the fighting goals, set by the Party Central Committee, with the absolute loyalty and the spirit of devoted implementation, again fully aware of the momentous mission that the increased production of military hardware precisely means the safeguard of dignity and sovereignty of the country.