North Korean leader Kim Jong-un strongly criticised international sanctions against his country while slamming "hostile forces" that are hampering his country's efforts in improving the lives of people.
Kim made the statement during a visit to the construction site of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area, Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The hostile forces are foolishly keen on vicious sanctions to stand in our way towards promotion of people's wellbeing and development and to lead us to change and submission," the North Korean leader said.
Kim also claimed that North Korea has been built by its own strength, technology, and efforts while saying, "They will be made to clearly see over time how our country that has built its strength hundreds of times defying hardship to build its own country as a powerful nation by its own strength, technology, and efforts," he mentioned.
KCNA quoted Kim as stating that "on-target impact" on hostile forces will be made through the large-scale construction project.
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Kim's comments are largely being viewed as a precursor to the tone of the impending talks between North Korea and the United States which are slated to be held next week. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is scheduled to visit North Korea next week to meet with his North Korean counterpart to further denuclearisation talks and push for inspections at the latter's nuclear and missile sites.
Meanwhile, North Korea and South Korea have completely stopped "hostile acts" against each other, fulfilling a set of confidence-building measures in a comprehensive military agreement signed in September this year. No-fly-zones have been fixed along the demilitarised zone, while both countries have been restricted from undertaking live-artillery drills within five kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Regiment-level field maneuvering exercises have also been prohibited within five kilometers of the MDL, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Yonhap quoted South Korea's Ministry of National Defence as saying, "North Korea has implemented measures to stop hostile acts in accordance with the military agreement, including the recent closure of coastline artillery."
Both the countries have also established peace zones near the Yellow Sea border.
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