North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the country’s defense capabilities to be strengthened, state media said Friday (local time), as he concluded a key party meeting with senior military officials held amid concerns over a possible North Korean nuclear test.
The meeting was closely followed due to growing speculation that Pyongyang could carry out its first nuclear test in five years, which US and South Korean officials say could now take place “at any time”.
Kim led the expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission, which lasted three days and ended on Thursday, during which officials “reviewed and approved the important issue of providing a military assurance to further strengthen the country’s war deterrent,” according to the KCNA Agency official.
The KCNA report does not directly mention North Korea’s nuclear or ballistic missile programs, but states that Ri Pyong Chol, who led North Korea’s missile development, was elected vice chairman of the party’s powerful Central Military Commission.
“(Kim) stressed the need for the entire army … to consolidate powerful self-defense capabilities in every way to wipe out all hostile forces,” KCNA said.
During the meeting, North Korea made a rare mention that it would review its war plans and said it had decided to strengthen the operational tasks of its frontline units with a “major military action plan. “.
Source: Terra
