Key facts
- North Korea plans to expand its nuclear forces quantitatively and qualitatively.
- The General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau's role will be expanded.
- Military reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities are to be enhanced.
- Leader Kim Jong Un stressed the importance of military strength for national security.
- Plans include upgrading combat systems and modernizing military bases.
North Korea has announced plans to expand its nuclear forces in both quantity and quality, according to state media KCNA. The decision was made during the first enlarged meeting of the ninth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, presided over by leader Kim Jong Un. The commission discussed enhancing the Korean People's Army's combat readiness and modernization, including a significant expansion of the functions and missions of the General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau (GRIB), the country's spy agency. The GRIB plays a key role in controlling threats and gathering information on "potential enemies." The meeting also called for a radical enhancement of military reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities, though specific details were not provided. Discussions also covered personnel reshuffles for key military posts, upgrading technical infrastructure for combat systems, bolstering the nuclear force, and pushing ahead with plans for standardizing, specializing, and modernizing military bases. Naval modernization and shipyard capacity improvements were also addressed. Kim Jong Un emphasized that military strength is the foundation of national security and essential for achieving 'true peace.'