North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the country will present its policy of jointly developing nuclear weapons and conventional military power during an upcoming key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, citing the country's state media outlet, the KCNA.
During an inspection of weapons research centers, Kim said that “the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea will present a policy of simultaneously promoting the construction of nuclear and conventional armed forces in the field of national defense“, the KCNA reported.
Kim also observed a shooting exercise by the North Korean military and inspected a hospital construction site, the KCNA reported.
Reuters notes that Kim's domestic political activity follows his visit to Beijing earlier this month for his biggest international multilateral event and meetings with leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, a commentary by the Central Asian State Council criticized next week's planned military exercise organized by the United States and South Korea, calling it “nuclear” and saying it justifies strengthening North Korea's nuclear posture.