North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises the training of the 105th Seoul Ryu Kyung-soo Armored Division (Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a tank unit that participated in the invasion of Seoul during the Korean War (1950-1953), where he called for enhanced combat preparations, according to state media reports Monday.

Relations between the two Koreas have deteriorated to their lowest levels ever, as Pyongyang classified South Korea as its "main enemy" at the beginning of this year, and threatened to wage war against it at the slightest encroachment on its territory.

North Korea's official news agency reported that Kim visited, yesterday, Sunday, the 105th Seoul Ryu Kyung-soo Armored Division, and official media showed him reviewing what it said were plans for attacks on South Korea.

The agency described this squad as the first to storm Seoul, and raised the flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea above the government complex of the "puppet state," noting its distinguished achievements in several battles during the recent war.

The fighting ended with a mere truce rather than a peace treaty, making the two Koreas technically at war since 1953.

Kim supervised the unit's training, and expressed his great satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the tank crews and their strong determination to defeat the enemy. He called for more "ideological education" to help soldiers enhance their combat capabilities and prepare for war.

Japan wants to meet Kim Jong-un

In a related context, the North Korean leader's sister announced on Monday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida requested a summit with Kim, indicating that any potential meeting may not happen unless Tokyo changes its policy.

In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong said that Kishida had recently expressed his desire to meet with the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as soon as possible.

For his part, Kishida stressed before Parliament in Tokyo the importance of holding summit talks to resolve differences, expressing his unawareness of the statement issued by North Korea.

Relations between Japan and North Korea are witnessing severe tension, due to several issues such as compensation for the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945, and Pyongyang’s launching of missiles over Japanese territory, in addition to the issue of kidnapping Japanese citizens.

In 2002, North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s with the aim of training them as spies in Japanese language and culture, and then allowed 5 of them to return to Japan.

Despite these historical differences, Kishida stressed his determination to improve relations with North Korea.

Last year, he also expressed his desire to meet Kim Jong Un "without conditions," stressing in a speech he delivered at the United Nations Japan's determination to settle all outstanding disputes with North Korea, including the dispute over the issue of kidnapping Japanese citizens.

Kim Yo Jong revealed the possibility of inviting the Japanese Prime Minister to visit North Korea. However, she warned that Japan's political decision is the most important thing to open a new chapter in relations between North Korea and Japan, calling on Tokyo not to interfere in North Korea's sovereignty.

Source: Agencies