N Korea leader inspects military as tensions high

Pyongyang, February 23, 2013: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a military drill, state media said on Saturday, his third such inspection following Pyongyang's third nuclear test.

Accompanied by top military commanders, Kim watched a flight exercise and a paratrooping drill by the Korean People's Army.

"He called on the KPA service personnel to put spurs to making preparations for going into action, keeping themselves at maximum alert at all times.

The state news agency did not to give the date of the visit but it was believed Kim's latest trip was on Friday.

North Korea on February 12 carried out its third nuclear test in seven years in what it says was a response to the US hostility shown in the widening of existing UN sanctions following its satellite launch in December last year.

World powers on the UN Security Council united to condemn the nuclear test, and the United States led calls for tougher sanctions.

North Korea is already under international sanctions for conducting two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, which both came after long-range rocket launches.