Jet fighters mobilized in N.K. military drill: source

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's military has mobilized 10 jet fighters
as part of a joint drill reportedly overseen by the nation's leader Kim Jong-il,
an intelligence source here said Monday.

"North Korea was observed to have conducted the joint army, navy and air force
drill in a western coastal area near Pyongyang on Friday," the source said.
"About 10 jet fighters, warships and 240-mm multiple-launch missile systems were
mobilized in the training," it added.
On Sunday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim had monitored
activities related to the joint drill and ordered the military to continue to
develop its capabilities in order to become an "invincible revolutionary armed
force." The report, however, did not say when or where the drill took place.
The report came two days after the North's National Defense Commission warned
that its military will initiate a "sacred retaliatory battle" against South Korea
over an alleged contingency plan drawn up by Seoul to deal with potential
military unrest in the impoverished socialist country.
The source, however, downplayed media speculation that Pyongyang's aim with the
drill was to intimidate the South.
The drill "was part of the North's winter training that the country has long
prepared for," he said.
The South Korean military is now trying to figure out whether Kim actually
conducted an on-the-spot inspection of the training ground, the source added.
Friday's threat came as a surprise following Pyongyang's recent conciliatory
gestures to the South, including a proposal Thursday to discuss resuming stalled
joint tour programs. Seoul expressed deep regret over the threat, which it said
was driven by unconfirmed media reports.
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