NK leader: war could break out without any prior notice

North Korea spoke of an unwarned war once again, sending signs of a possible provocation against South Korea.

Rodong Sinmun reported Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Command of Large Combined Unit 526 of the North Korean People`s Army, and instructed his military to boost its combat readiness, always bearing in mind that a war breaks out without any prior notice. He visited the unit on Christmas Eve, the day when Kim Jong Il had been appointed as supreme commander of the North Korean People`s Army.

On December 16, Choi Ryong Hae, director of the General Political Department of the People`s Army, attended the armed forces oath of allegiance meeting held at a square in front of Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. There he warned, "Keeping in mind that a war could break out without any prior notice, we will blow the bases of invasion if enemies dare shoot fire against us." The same expressions threatening the South were used by the North`s top officers. On December 19, Pyongyang sent a telephone notice to the South Korean Presidential Office where one of the expressions read "retaliation without notice."

Unit 526 is the North`s III Corps headquartered in Nampo City in South Pyongan Province. III Corps is where Jang Song Woo, former vice marshal of the People`s Army and older brother of Jang Song Thaek who was executed, had served as commander. This place is the first field force Kim Jong Un visited after execution of Jang Song Thaek.

Kim Jong Un visited Unit 526 to put unstable moods of soldiers under control in the wake of execution of Jang Song Thaek and to spur combat readiness. Rodong Sinmun said Unit 526 takes pride in having received on-site guidance by the late former North Korean leaders of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, adding the place made significant performance at the Korean War, which 75 heroes had been generated. Kim Jong Un said his father`s accomplishments of raising North Korea to the world`s top military nation will shine down for generations."

No concrete signs of provocations against South Korea have shown and no signs of the fourth nuclear test or long-range missile firing have been detected until now. The South Korean military authorities said, "Besides winter training, no special military trends are currently identified at the North Korean army. However, we are in full alert since North Korea can always make provocation." Public authorities obtained information that North Korea could carry out online terrorism in January or February next year, and have started to devise preparation measures.