This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
Published on December 22, 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been discussing ways to bolster the country's military as a deadline for Washington to give ground approaches.
Pyongyang has been carrying out a series of static tests at its Sohae rocket facility this month, following a number of weapons launches in recent weeks, some of which were described as ballistic missiles by Japan and others.
The North's actions have been in defiance of UN sanctions, which ban the country from carrying out such tests.
Kim held an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, where he gave analysis and briefing on the complicated internal and external situation to bolster up the overall armed forces of the country, according to the North's official KCNA news agency.
"Referring to merits and demerits in the recent work of the People's Army and matters to be rapidly overcome", KCNA said, "the Supreme Leader indicated in detail the direction and ways to be maintained" to boost the armed forces.
"Important issues for decisive improvement of the overall national defence and core matters for the sustained and accelerated development of military capability for self-defence" were also discussed, it added.
