North Korea boosts nuclear arsenal and expands military intel
Pyongyang also widened the role of its military intelligence agency for operations and information gathering tied to South Korea.
North Korea decided to strengthen its nuclear arsenal “both in quality and quantity” at a plenary meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, July 9. State media KCNA said the move was part of military modernization, along with upgrades to combat system infrastructure and faster construction of modern naval bases. Pyongyang will also expand the functions of the General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau, the military intelligence agency focused on threats and information gathering related to South Korea. The step came as North Korea again rejected Seoul's call for dialogue, continued to describe itself as an irreversible nuclear state, and remained under international sanctions tied to its weapons program.