Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

This picture taken on August 24, 2024 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 26 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front C) inspecting a performance test of drones organized by the Drone Institute of the Academy of Defense Sciences at an undisclosed location in North Korea. KCNA via KNS/AFP

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757729117408cropped-Screen Shot 2025-09-13 at 10.04.02 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">This picture taken on August 24, 2024 and released by North Korea&#x27;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 26 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front C) inspecting a performance test of drones organized by the Drone Institute of the Academy of Defense Sciences at an undisclosed location in North Korea. KCNA via KNS/AFP</p><p>SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang will unveil a policy to advance both its nuclear arsenal and conventional military power at an upcoming key ruling party meeting, state media said Saturday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/3/daughter-of-north-korea-s-kim-makes-global-debut-on-china-trip-1529">Daughter of North Korea&#x27;s Kim makes global &#x27;debut&#x27; on China trip</a></div><p>Since a failed summit with the United States in 2019, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an &quot;irreversible&quot; nuclear state.</p><p>While visiting weapons research facilities this week, Kim said Pyongyang &quot;would put forward the policy of simultaneously pushing forward the building of nuclear forces and conventional armed forces&quot;, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/18/north-korea-s-accidental-defectors-stuck-south-of-border-0956">North Korea&#x27;s &#x27;accidental defectors&#x27; stuck south of border</a></div><p>Kim also emphasized the need to &quot;modernize&quot; the country&#x27;s conventional armed forces, without specifying the date of the party meeting.</p><p>The North Korean leader has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside Moscow.</p><p>Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defense pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state.</p><p>Seoul has repeatedly warned that Russia is stepping up support for Pyongyang, including the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology, in return for North Korea&#x27;s assistance in fighting Ukraine.</p><p>&quot;In essence, it reflects (Kim&#x27;s) view that nuclear forces alone have limits as a deterrent, and that Pyongyang is seeking to boost its war-fighting capability by modernizing its conventional arsenal,&quot; Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.</p><p>&quot;North Korea&#x27;s military technology cooperation with Russia seems to be also expanding into the conventional arms sector, and modernization plans tailored to &#x27;modern warfare&#x27; are likely to be laid out as a mid- to long-term agenda&quot; at the upcoming meeting, he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/19/-at-least-100-north-koreans-killed-fighting-for-russia-seoul-1643">&#x27;At least 100 North Koreans killed&#x27; fighting for Russia: Seoul</a></div><p>At the last party congress in January 2021, Kim unveiled an ambitious military agenda, pledging to develop advanced weapons such as military spy satellites and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.</p><p>Analysts say they expect the upcoming meeting to be held early next year.</p><p>Kim and Putin flanked China&#x27;s President Xi Jinping at a massive parade in Beijing this month, drawing an acidic response from US President Donald Trump, who accused the three leaders of plotting against the United States.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQw7P0qLV-s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang will unveil a policy to advance both its nuclear arsenal and conventional military power at an upcoming key ruling party meeting, state media said Saturday.</p>

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang will unveil a policy to advance both its nuclear arsenal and conventional military power at an upcoming key ruling party meeting, state media said Saturday.

North Korea to boost nuclear arsenal, conventional military: state media

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North Korea to boost nuclear arsenal, conventional military: state media

Agence France-Presse

Published Sep 13, 2025 10:06 AM PHT

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Agence France-Presse

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