North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Emphasizes Strengthening of Military
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for the strengthening of the country’s military, stating that the forces must be prepared to engage in any type of war. Kim made the remarks during a visit to the Kang-Kon Military Academy in Pyongyang, according to the official news agency, KCNA.
Kim inspected the academy and expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of military training facilities, which he said did not meet the political demands of the Workers’ Party of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the development of a powerful army. The leader emphasized the need for the facilities to focus on practical training, allowing soldiers to gain experience in modern warfare and master advanced weapons and technology.
Kim also highlighted the aggressive and belligerent nature of the imperialists, stating that war and bloodshed have become a daily reality. He called for the development of a strong and modern military that can respond to the current international situation.
The Kang-Kon Military Academy, named after the first general staff chief of the North Korean People’s Army, is responsible for training high-ranking military officers. Kim also visited the Kim Il-sung University of Politics, a prestigious institution that trains elite cadres and delivered a speech to students and faculty members.
Kim stressed the importance of building a powerful military that is not only equipped with weapons but also driven by ideology, saying that weapons without ideology are mere “ironware.” The development of the military, he added, should focus on making it “politically, ideologically and morally strong.”
The North Korean leader also emphasized the need to develop new military equipment, including nuclear forces and to make significant progress in the country’s military development by the year 2025, which he declared the “Year of Military Training.”
South Korea’s Ministry of Reunification expressed concerns that North Korea may increase its military activities this year, citing the country’s recent military developments and the leader’s emphasis on military strengthening.