North Korea’s Kim Jong Un told his country’s state media that the first ruling party congress in five years will include next-stage plans aimed at further bolstering its nuclear program. The announcement came as KCNA reported that Kim observed a live-fire drill of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system on Tuesday, an apparent reference to the kind of ballistic missile launches that South Korea and Japan have previously described.
The congress is expected to begin in February, and North Korea typically uses such meetings as major political and propaganda events to set new political and economic priorities, according to the AP report. Kim described boosting the military capability as the “invariable line” of the ruling Workers’ Party and KCNA said the congress will serve as a venue to declare “next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country’s nuclear war deterrent.”
KCNA did not provide details on what the next-stage nuclear development plan would look like, the report said. In the same reporting cycle, state media photos showed Kim walking near a large launch truck with his teenage daughter in what was described as her latest public appearance with him. South Korea’s spy service said in early 2024 it had considered the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, as her father’s likely heir.
KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un as saying the drill was meant to enhance the effectiveness of North Korea’s “strategic deterrent,” a term used to describe its nuclear weapons capability. KCNA also said the upgraded launcher system’s mobility and strike accuracy had been improved, while experts told AP that large-sized rocket launchers can blur the boundary between artillery systems and ballistic missiles because they can generate their own thrust and are guided during delivery.
Experts also said North Korea has described some of these systems as capable of delivering nuclear warheads. They pointed to continuing testing momentum since December, when North Korea test-fired what it called hypersonic missiles, long-range strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles, which AP reported were likely meant to demonstrate or review weapons development achievements ahead of the congress.
Ahead of any possible future diplomacy, AP said North Korea has refused to engage in talks with the United States and South Korea since Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. The report added that experts say Kim could return to talks if he is assured of some economic and political rewards for limited denuclearization steps, but KCNA did not say what the congress’s nuclear steps would entail.