‘N Korea leader tours islands near disputed border’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has toured the islands of Jangjae and Mu, near the disputed maritime border with South Korea, reports say.

Kim examined “newly built barracks, military positions and homes for soldiers and their families,” during his trip to the fortified frontline islands, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Tuesday.

The agency went on to explain that this is his third visit to the islands in a year, adding that the leader was also submitted detailed report on “enemy positions” and “targets” on the South Korean islands across the border.

The North Korean leader last visited Jangjae Island and Mu Island in March. He vowed to order a “great advance” along the entire frontline even if the slightest provocation occurred, while addressing the troops stationed there.

Several deadly naval clashes have been carried out in the Korean Yellow Sea border off the west coast of Peninsula.

The latest of the clashes occurred in 2010, when North Korea shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing four people.

Pyongyang has repeatedly blamed the United States for the ongoing row between the two sides, saying the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula is attributable to the US ‘heinous hostile policy’ toward North Korea.

Kim’s visit to the islands came one day after the two Koreas held the first meeting of a joint committee to pave the way for reopening the jointly run Kaesong industrial zone.

The complex, established in 2004, was closed in April 2013 after the tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang over the joint military exercises by the South and the United States were ratcheted up.

The two sides agreed to reopen the zone on August 14 following extensive talks.