North Korean leader Kim Jong Un instructed senior military officials on New Year’s Eve to be ready to “destroy” U.S. and South Korean forces in the event of conflict, including using all “super-powerful” means at Pyongyang’s disposal. 

Meeting with senior commanders of the Korean People’s Army on Sunday, Kim warned that the danger of armed conflict is growing due to the “reckless provocations” of Pyongyang’s “enemies” and urged preparedness, the party-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Monday.