New Delhi: North Korea has approved a series of defence measures aimed at strengthening its strategic capabilities, upgrading military infrastructure and improving combat readiness during an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party chaired by leader Kim Jong-un. The decisions outline a broad military agenda covering nuclear weapons, intelligence operations, naval development and base modernisation.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the commission decided to strengthen the country’s nuclear forces “both quantitatively and qualitatively” while adopting several military development plans. Reuters reported that the meeting focused on expanding strategic capabilities alongside improving the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.
Kim told senior military officials that North Korea’s security and peace could only be guaranteed through a powerful military capable of containing every threat facing the country. He called for sustained efforts to ensure the armed forces remain prepared to respond to changing security challenges.
The commission approved plans to upgrade the technical infrastructure supporting combat systems while introducing a programme to standardise, specialize and modernize military bases. These projects are intended to improve the efficiency and long-term operational capability of the country’s defence network.
Another decision taken during the meeting was to expand the responsibilities of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s military intelligence agency. It was decided to improve the navy’s reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities in support of future military operations.
The leadership also approved the fast-tracking of the construction of modern naval bases and the expansion of shipyard capacity, calling the move a major transformation in the navy’s role. The announcement comes as Pyongyang has continued to invest in strengthening its maritime forces.
Earlier this month, Kim supervised weapons tests involving the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon, which was repaired after capsizing during its launch ceremony in 2025. He has also pledged to equip North Korea’s navy with nuclear weapons as the country continues to develop its strategic deterrence capabilities.
North Korea has maintained its status as an irreversible nuclear-armed state since the collapse of denuclearisation negotiations at the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim and the US president, Donald Trump, over sanctions relief and the scope of dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. The country remains under multiple international sanctions, while the Korean Peninsula is technically still at war because the 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.
Kim Jong-un unveils major military expansion, North Korea to strengthen nuclear forces
North Korea has approved a wide-ranging military expansion plan under Kim Jong-un, including stronger nuclear forces, upgraded military infrastructure, enhanced intelligence capabilities and faster naval development.
Kim Jong-un unveils major military expansion. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)