N. Korean leader calls on military to improve combat capability

SEOUL, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il urged his country's
armed servicemembers to improve their combat capabilities, saying they must be
prepared to protect their socialist nation, the North's official news agency
reported Sunday.

The call came during Kim's recent visit to Korean People's Army (KPA) Unit 1224,
according to the report by the Korean Central News Agency.
The report did not elaborate on when the visit was made, only saying the North
Korean leader was accompanied by KPA vice-marshal Kim yong-chun, vice chairman of
the National Defense Commission and minister of armed forces Gen. Kim Jong-gak
and several other officials.
"After watching the servicepersons' training at the unit, (Kim Jong-il) was
greatly satisfied to see all the servicepersons grown to be a-match-for-a-hundred
fighters fully prepared politically and ideologically and in military technique
to firmly safeguard the socialist motherland," the English-language report said.
"He set forth the tasks to be fulfilled by the unit to increase its combat
capability in every way," it added.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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