North Korea discussed new measures to strengthen its "nuclear deterrent" during a meeting chaired by its leader Kim Jong-un, the official KCNA news agency said on Sunday.
This meeting was the first public appearance of Kim Jong-un reported by the North Korean media in nearly three weeks. She intervenes when, according to information from the Washington Post , the American administration recently discussed the possibility of carrying out a nuclear test, which would be the first led by the United States since 1992. During a meeting of the Commission Korean central military under the chairmanship of Kim Jong-un "new measures have been introduced to strengthen the country's military nuclear deterrent," KCNA reported.
"A series of faults in the military and political activities" of the country
The agency mentions "crucial measures" but does not give details on the nature of the decisions taken concerning nuclear deterrence. KCNA indicates that the discussions also focused on "putting on alert the strategic armed forces", in the context of "the increase and development of the country's armed forces". Decisions have notably been adopted for "a considerable increase and development of the firepower of artillery pieces of the Korean People's Army", according to the official agency.
The meeting also discussed "a series of flaws in military and political activity" in North Korea and discussed ways to ensure "decisive improvement" in these areas, added KCNA. The dispatch from the North Korean agency does not specify when the meeting was held. But it indicates in a second dispatch that Kim Jong-un issued an order to the armed forces on May 23.
Speculation about Kim's health
It is in any case the first public appearance of Kim Jong-un reported by the official media in more than 20 days. The North Korean leader reappeared in early May after a three-week public absence that had sparked rumors and speculation about his health.
Rumors began after his notable absence from major celebrations on April 15. This day is the most important on the North Korean political calendar because the whole country commemorates the birth of the founder of the regime, Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of the current leader.
Kim Jong-un had appeared in seemingly healthy public on images released by the North Korean media on May 2. On Sunday, the official daily Rodong Sinmun published photos of the meeting of the Central Military Commission.
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