North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has urged his military to train for global strength. He made the call during a two-day meeting of company commanders in Pyongyang, state media reported Saturday. His remarks came amid renewed tensions between North and South Korea over their heavily guarded border.
The meeting took place on Thursday and Friday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim called for a military transformation based on North Korea’s own approach. He said the gathering aimed to develop a plan for building the world’s strongest armed forces.
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Kim also urged every army company to become an elite unit with strong military and technical skills. He stressed the need to prepare forces capable of carrying out combat duties effectively. The meeting marked the first gathering of the entire army since February’s ruling party congress.
During that congress, Kim called for stronger conventional forces and repeated his commitment to developing nuclear weapons and missiles. North Korea has recently tested several weapons, including a precision-guided torpedo system and a hypersonic missile. State media said both systems involved artificial intelligence technology.
Meanwhile, tensions between the two Koreas have increased following an explosion inside the Demilitarised Zone. South Korea blamed North Korean landmines for the blast, which injured South Korean soldiers. Pyongyang strongly rejected Seoul’s claim and previously refused demands for an apology.
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South Korea proposed military talks on Friday to clarify the border and restore communication channels. However, North Korea had not responded to the proposal, according to the report. The two countries remain technically at war because the 1950–1953 conflict ended with a truce rather than a peace treaty.
North Korea has also strengthened ties with Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pyongyang has sent troops to support Russia’s war effort, reportedly receiving economic benefits and military technology in return. Despite longstanding United Nations sanctions, North Korea continues to maintain its nuclear weapons programme and declares its nuclear status permanent.