North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed military commanders to intensify training and strengthen combat readiness, with the goal of building what he described as the world’s strongest armed forces.
Kim gave the directive during a two-day meeting of company commanders held in Pyongyang on Thursday and Friday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
He called for a “Korean-style military revolution”, urging army units to improve their military skills, technical capabilities and operational effectiveness.
Kim also instructed every company in the country’s military to develop into an elite force capable of responding effectively to combat situations.
The meeting was described as the first gathering involving the entire army since a ruling party congress in February, where Kim reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening conventional military capabilities alongside the development of nuclear weapons and missiles.
The push for greater military preparedness comes amid heightened tensions between North and South Korea following an explosion in the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that injured South Korean soldiers.
Seoul has proposed military talks to clarify border issues and restore communication channels. South Korea blamed North Korean landmines for the explosion, but Pyongyang rejected the accusation and has yet to respond to the latest proposal.
The two countries remain technically at war because the 1950–1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.
North Korea has recently reported several weapons developments, including a new precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, both reportedly incorporating artificial intelligence technology.
Despite international sanctions imposed by the United Nations, Pyongyang continues to maintain its nuclear weapons programme, describing its status as a nuclear-armed state as permanent and irreversible.
North Korea has also strengthened its relationship with Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pyongyang has sent troops to support Russia’s war effort, reportedly receiving economic assistance and military technology in return.
