North Korea decides on measures to expand nuclear forces, KCNA reports

SEOUL, July 10 (Reuters) – North Korea has decided on measures to strengthen its nuclear forces “quantitatively and qualitatively” after leader Kim Jong Un called for modernizing its military, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

⁠KCNA said the measures and Kim’s remarks came during an extended meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military ‌Commission on Thursday.

According to the report, Kim said North Korea’s security and “true peace” can only be guaranteed by building a strong army that can control all threats.

KCNA said the meeting identified plans to renew the technical infrastructure of combat systems, expand and strengthen nuclear forces, standardize, specialize and modernize military bases.

The report also discussed expanding the role of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s military intelligence agency, to improve its reconnaissance and intelligence gathering capabilities.

KCNA said the meeting discussed the construction of modern naval bases and increasing shipyard capacity, reflecting what it called a major change in the status and role of the navy.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Mark Porter and Jamie Freed)