North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on May 17 to strengthen frontline units along the border with South Korea as well as other major military forces to more effectively deter war [1, 2, 3].
At a meeting with division and brigade commanders of the Korean People's Army, Kim stressed the need to adjust military training systems and expand realistic combat drills. He said these should reflect changes in modern warfare and the ongoing modernization of military capabilities [1, 2, 3].
Kim said planned projects must redefine operational concepts to align with the rapid modernization of the military and technical equipment. These updated concepts, he added, must be fully integrated into unit combat training [1, 2, 3].
He also emphasized the importance of ideological loyalty and maintaining vigilance against South Korea, which he referred to as the "arch enemy" [1, 2, 3]. According to North Korean state media, Kim vowed to turn the southern border area into an "impregnable fortress" by strengthening defense buildup and combat readiness [3].
The meeting was attended by Ri Yong-gil, chief of the General Staff, and Pak Jong-chon, adviser to the Ministry of National Defense [3].
Kim’s remarks underscore a focus on preparing frontline units to deter conflict amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The May 17 meeting marked a high-level push to modernize training and operational strategies in line with military advancements [1, 2, 3].
