North Korea's Central Military Commission meets to discuss strengthening nuclear deterrence

Mr. Kim Jong-un chaired an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of North Korea on May 24. Photo: KCNA/Yonhap

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), another content discussed at the enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea was important military steps and organizational and political measures to further strengthen the armed forces.

“Discussed at the meeting were new policies for further strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrence and putting the strategic armed forces on high alert in response to the general need for building and developing the country’s armed forces,” KCNA said. It did not elaborate on what the “new policies” regarding nuclear deterrence were.

However, the source added: “Brought up at the meeting were important measures to significantly increase the firepower attack capability of the artillery pieces of the Korean People's Army.”

At the same time, leader Kim Jong-un also stressed the importance of “exercising the party's absolute leadership” over the military and specified “key issues that need to be continuously maintained in the military and political capabilities of the North Korean armed forces.”

During the meeting, Kim Jong-un signed seven decrees related to the military measures discussed, including measures to strengthen “the responsibility and role of major military education academies,” reorganize the “military command system” and promote “military commanding officers.”

Ri Pyong-chol, known for his role in North Korea's military development, was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission at the recent meeting. KCNA did not specify the time of the meeting, but North Korean media usually reports it a day after Kim Jong-un's activities.

The meeting marked the first time leader Kim Jong-un has appeared since visiting a local fertilizer factory on May 1, ending a 20-day absence that sparked speculation about his health.

Previously, the last time Chairman Kim Jong-un chaired a meeting of the Central Military Commission of North Korea was in mid-December last year.