By Rachel Lee
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the military to reinforce defense readiness as inter-Korean tensions continue to rise following the North's fourth nuclear test.
Kim urged the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces to step up its political and military activities in order to protect the 7th Workers' Party Congress, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.
"This is the militant slogan for the People's Armed Forces this year," the state news agency quoted Kim as saying. "The People's Armed Forces should reinforce its readiness through artillery training and other measures."
North Korea has stationed more troops along the inter-Korean border to bolster its monitoring of the South after the latter resumed propaganda broadcasts on Friday.
The KCNA said that Kim's comments were made when he visited the ministry, but did not state when exactly he made the speech.
Kim also said the hydrogen bomb test was a self-defense step against the threat of nuclear war with the U.S.
"Our hydrogen bomb test is a self-defense step for peace on the Korean Peninsula and for regional security," Kim said. "It protects our people's right to live and the independence of the country against the danger of a nuclear war with the U.S. and the U.S.-led imperialists."
Kim also said that it was the "legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticize."
This was the first time that the North Korean media has reported the leader's remarks after Thursday's nuclear test. The international community is discussing whether to impose sanctions against North Korea.
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