Kim Urges North Korea to Build Strongest Army

Kim Jong Un presided at the Pyongyang Gymnasium over the Third Meeting of Company Leaders of the Korean People's Army on October 22-23, 2026. KCNA said Saturday he urged commanders to build the strongest army and speed a military revolution in North Korea's style by fostering the strongest companies, keeping the force the army of the Party and of ideology. The gathering was billed as the first military-wide meeting since the Workers' Party Ninth Congress in February 2026, which set stronger conventional forces and reaffirmed nuclear and missile development as five-year goals. After the speech, Defense Minister Kim Song-gi delivered a report. Participants watched videos of company commanders' combat experience, and outstanding commanders were honored. Senior figures present included Pak Jong-chon, Kim Song-gi, and Ri Yong-gil. The event was Kim's first public appearance in four days after a national footwear and clothing exhibition in Pyongyang. Social media had carried rumors of Kim's death. South Korea's National Intelligence Service told a parliamentary committee Friday those rumors were unfounded. which rest on KCNA.