Kim Jong-un Orders Nuclear-Force Expansion and Intelligence-Bureau Growth at Military Meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the first enlarged meeting of the ninth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on July 9 at the party's Central Committee headquarters in Pyongyang. The meeting addressed ways to enhance the Korean People's Army's combat readiness and modernization while calling for expanded functions and missions of the General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau.

Yonhap reported that the bureau was described as playing a pivotal role in controlling potential enemies' threats and gathering key information.

The session called for enhancing the bureau's military reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities in a radical way. It also addressed the organizational matter of dismissing, transferring, and newly appointing leading officers for key posts of the People's Army. Kim signed seven written orders implementing major military decisions during the meeting.

He stated that the security and peace of the country and the people cannot be defended with willingness alone. He added that only a strong army that controls and contains threats with its powerful strength can achieve true peace. The meeting decided on upgrading the technical infrastructure of combat systems, bolstering the nuclear force both in quality and quantity, and advancing plans to standardize, specialize, and modernize military bases.

It also discussed naval modernization along with the remodeling of coal-mining regions nationwide and other construction projects.