North Korea’s Kim orders training of world’s ‘strongest’ military

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un addressed his military at a two-day meeting in Pyongyang, calling for them to train and become the world's strongest armed forces, according to state media. This demand, dubbed a "Korean-style military revolution," occurred during a period of heightened tension between the two Koreas, with Seoul proposing talks to clarify their heavily fortified border following an explosion inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that injured South Korean soldiers.

The incident has strained inter-Korean relations, as both sides remain technically at war due to the 1950-53 Korean War's truce rather than a peace treaty. Kim emphasized the need to transform each unit of the North's army into elite combat forces, both militarily and technically, at the event held on Thursday and Friday. This gathering marked the first time all of North Korea's army convened since a February party congress where Kim had similarly called for stronger conventional forces and reaffirmed plans to continue developing nuclear weapons and missiles, despite recent weapons tests including AI-guided precision torpedoes and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.

Despite ongoing UN sanctions, North Korea has maintained its nuclear status as enshrined in law and has become a key ally of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, sending troops to support Moscow's war effort in exchange for economic benefits and military technology. South Korea offered to engage in military talks with North Korea to clarify their border and restore communication lines following the DMZ blast, but Pyongyang rejected the proposal, rejecting Seoul's demand for an apology over the explosion.