More defensive abilities
The security landscape on the peninsula is fragile, and Kim Jong Un warned that the situation could worsen. He urged the nation to lift its defensive capabilities quickly to safeguard sovereignty, reiterating a readiness to respond with force when needed. These calls come after Pyongyang logged a record number of missile tests this year, including the feared intercontinental ballistic missiles, and there are clear signals of another underground nuclear test being prepared. The regime is pressing ahead despite international scrutiny, emphasizing strength as a necessity for regime survival and national deterrence. (KCNA)
During the one-party plenary session, leadership decisions also reshaped the top ranks of diplomacy. Choe Son-Hui, previously North Korea’s deputy foreign minister and a key figure in nuclear conversations with the United States, was announced as the new foreign minister. Ri Son-gwon, the former minister, will oversee inter-Korean relations, marking a shift in how Pyongyang plans to handle external and regional diplomacy. (KCNA)
On the peninsula, tensions have reached levels not seen in five years, driven by North Korea’s insistence on weapons testing and a stiff response from Washington and Seoul, which have conducted their own missiles launches and broader military exercises. The moves reflect a broader strategy that relies on extended deterrence, a commitment highlighted by U.S. President Joe Biden and the South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol, who met in Seoul not long ago. (KCNA)
Pre-pandemic “new phase”
Regarding the pandemic, the leadership spoke of strengthening the health system’s foundations and examining the gaps identified during the height of the crisis, which began with the regime confirming the presence of the virus in May. The messaging stressed that an anti-epidemic policy succeeds when it is implemented with strict, scientific rigor and ongoing improvements to transmission prevention systems and methods. (KCNA)
The leadership described the country’s COVID-19 strategy as entering a new phase focused on infection prevention measures after a period centered on blocking and eradicating the virus. The nation reported 42,810 new suspected infections in a single day, with the cumulative total reaching around 4.39 million cases, representing a sizable portion of the population. Death data remained sparse in official releases, inviting scrutiny from observers awaiting more transparent statistics. (KCNA)
In a country that has maintained strict isolation since the global health emergency began, questions linger about the true reach of the outbreak. The regime has hesitated to accept external vaccine donations or participate fully in international campaigns, which complicates the assessment of the health crisis’s scale among the population. (KCNA)
Records suggest the health system is under stress as the government balances epidemic containment with political priorities, navigating limited data and ongoing restrictions that shape how the pandemic is understood inside the country. (KCNA)