North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for stronger military reinforcement along the border with South Korea, saying the move is necessary to “more thoroughly deter war”.
According to North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim made the remarks during a meeting on May 17 involving commanders of army divisions and brigades across the country.
Kim reportedly stressed the importance of turning the border area into an “impregnable fortress” by strengthening front-line military units and improving overall combat readiness.
He also urged the military to modernise its training system and expand practical drills to reflect the changing nature of modern warfare and the rapid development of North Korea’s military capabilities.
KCNA reported that Kim called for operational concepts to be redefined in line with modern military technology and for those changes to be fully integrated into combat training exercises.
During the meeting, Kim also emphasised ideological loyalty and vigilance against what North Korea described as its “archenemy” — a term commonly used by Pyongyang to refer to South Korea.
The Korean Peninsula technically remains in a state of war because the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry noted that this appeared to be Kim’s first publicly reported meeting with division and brigade commanders since assuming power.
Seoul added that it would continue efforts to manage military tensions and build trust despite the latest developments.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korean troops have intensified fortification activities near the inter-Korean border since March, including the construction of defensive walls.
Security analysts believe Kim’s latest remarks may signal broader military expansion not only along the land border but also around disputed maritime boundaries such as the Northern Limit Line (NLL).
Experts also suggested that North Korea’s renewed focus on modern warfare may reflect lessons drawn from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly involving drone warfare, precision strikes and electronic combat systems.
