Kim Jong Un Calls for ‘Military Revolution’ as North Korea Pushes to Strengthen Army

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a “military revolution” to strengthen the country’s armed forces, urging army commanders to transform their units into elite, self-sufficient combat forces capable of carrying out military operations effectively.

Kim made the remarks during a two-day conference of company commanders of the Korean People’s Army held in Pyongyang on October 22 and 23, according to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which reported on the meeting on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, Kim said the country needed to build the strongest army by improving the capabilities of individual military companies, which serve as basic combat units within the armed forces.

“Let us build the strongest army and speed up a military revolution in our style,” Kim said, according to state media reports cited by Reuters.

He urged commanders to strengthen military training, improve combat readiness and ensure that their units could operate independently. He also emphasised ideological discipline and the need to improve soldiers’ living conditions and unit management.

The conference was described by KCNA as the first gathering involving the broader military command structure since the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea held its Ninth Congress in February. That congress established the party’s political and military priorities for the next five years.

Kim’s latest remarks reflect his continued focus on expanding North Korea’s military capabilities. At the party congress, he called for stronger conventional forces while reaffirming the country’s commitment to developing nuclear weapons and missile systems.

The emphasis on self-sufficient combat units could also signal an effort to improve the effectiveness of forces at the tactical level, rather than relying exclusively on major weapons systems or large-scale military formations.

The meeting brought together commanders responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operational readiness of army companies. North Korean officials presented the conference as an opportunity to reinforce discipline, improve military organisation and raise the overall standard of combat units.

KCNA said the gathering was intended to accelerate efforts to develop elite units capable of independently carrying out a range of military missions. However, the state media report did not provide specific details about new weapons, deployment plans or measurable targets arising from the conference.

North Korea has continued to prioritise military development amid longstanding tensions with South Korea and the United States. Its nuclear and missile programmes have remained a major source of regional and international security concern, while Pyongyang has repeatedly defended its weapons development as necessary for national defence.

Kim’s latest call for stronger conventional forces alongside continued nuclear and missile development indicates that military modernisation remains central to the government’s strategic direction.

Independent verification of North Korea’s military announcements is often difficult because of restrictions on access to the country. The latest statements therefore offer insight into the leadership’s declared priorities, but do not independently establish how quickly the military changes will be implemented or what their practical impact will be.