North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has hinted that the country’s air force has been equipped with nuclear weapons to “repulse provocations of the enemies”. The 41-year-old rotund despot has been seen in new photographs issued by the state news agency inspecting military aircraft and speaking with pilots.

Speaking to state media, Kim said the fighter planes will be equipped with “new strategic assets”, the word strategic has often been used by the leader to refer to nuclear weapons. The North Korean dictator has been in power for 13 years after taking over the title of supreme leader of the country from his father, Kim Jong Il.

Kim was speaking at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Air Force on Friday, where he was accompanied by his daughter Ju Ae, who it is understood may succeed her father as leader.

The Japan Times reports Kim told the Korean Central News Agency: “The Air Force will be given new strategic military assets and entrusted with a new important duty.”

He said that North Korea’s air force “will play a role in the exercise of the nuclear war deterrent”, adding: “The Air Force should resolutely repulse and control all sorts of espionage acts and possible military provocations of the enemies.”

During his walkabout, Kim met with pilots at Kalma Airfield in Wonsan, Gangwon Province. He also inspected several large mobile missile launchers, as well as some drone-type aircraft.

Kim wore a large dark leather trench coat for his appearance and was later seen sitting at a table with his daughter, apparently viewing aerial displays alongside a host of military officials.

According to Ukrainian intelligence reports, North Korea has begun mass production of short-range First Person View (FPV) drones and larger battlefield attack drones. North Korean forces have been involved in Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine after Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged his support.

North Korea and South Korea remain in an uncomfortable stalemate militarily, a situation which has remained since 1953 when the 148-mile-long Korean Demilitarised Zone was created between the two countries after the Korean War between Western powers and Communist China.

In July, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called radio and loudspeaker broadcasts “a relic of the Cold War” and expressed hope that their suspension would improve ties with North Korea.

The South Korean Defence Ministry said the suspension of its “Voice of Freedom” radio broadcast was designed to ease military tensions with North Korea.

South Korean officials say North Korea has also switched off its own border loudspeakers and stopped transmitting jamming signals targeting South Korean radio broadcasts.

But North Korea is still refusing to resume long-dormant talks with South Korea and the US.