Full Breakdown
North Korea Sets Plans to Expand Nuclear Forces and Modernize Military
7/10/2026, 6:02:30 PM
Expanded Nuclear and Military Modernization Agenda
On July 10, 2026, state news agency KC Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission met in Seoul and approved a series of measures to “strengthen its nuclear forces ‘quantitatively and qualitatively’” and to modernize the armed forces. The agenda includes renewing combat-system infrastructure, expanding nuclear capabilities, and upgrading naval bases and shipyard capacity. The meeting also called for a broader role for the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s military intelligence service.
Background: Ongoing Drive to Modernize the Armed Forces
Kim Jong Un has repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize the military as a cornerstone of national security. Earlier statements have linked “true peace” to a “powerful military capable of controlling all threats.” The latest decisions follow a pattern of incremental upgrades to technical systems and force structure that have been highlighted in recent KCNA releases.
Official Statements & Responses
Kim Jong Un told the enlarged commission that the country’s security and “true peace” depend on building a powerful military able to deter all threats. KCNA framed the meeting’s outcomes as a “major change in the status and role of the navy” and stressed that expanding the Reconnaissance General Bureau would improve intelligence-gathering capabilities. The agency presented the plan as a comprehensive effort to standardise, specialise, and modernise military bases across the peninsula.
Verbatim Quotes
- “SEOUL, July 10 (Reuters) - North Korea has decided on measures to strengthen its nuclear forces "quantitatively and qualitatively" as leader Kim Jong Un ?called for modernising ?its military, state media KCNA reported on Friday.” — KCNA
- “Kim said North Korea's security and "true peace" could only be guaranteed by building a powerful military capable of controlling all threats, according to the report.” — Kim Jong Un
- “The meeting set plans to renew the technical infrastructure of combat systems, expand and strengthen nuclear forces, and standardise, specialise and modernise military bases, KCNA said.” — KCNA
- “It also discussed expanding the role of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's military intelligence agency, to improve its reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capabilities, the report added.” — KCNA
- “KCNA said the meeting addressed the construction of modern naval bases and upgrades to shipyard capacity, reflecting what it called a major change in the status and role of the navy.” — KCNA
