North Korea approves measures to expand its nuclear forces — report

North Korea has approved new measures to strengthen its nuclear forces "quantitatively and qualitatively," state media KCNA reported Friday, after leader Kim Jong Un called for the continued modernization of the country's military.

REUTERS

July 10, 2026

North Korea approves measures to expand its nuclear forces — report

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission in North Korea on July 9, 2026.

KCNA via REUTERS

SEOUL — North Korea has approved new measures to strengthen its nuclear forces "quantitatively and qualitatively," state media KCNA reported Friday, after leader Kim Jong Un called for the continued modernization of the country's military.

The measures were announced during an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission on Thursday, according to KCNA.

Kim said North Korea's security and "true peace" could only be guaranteed by maintaining a powerful military capable of countering all threats.

The meeting approved plans to upgrade the technical infrastructure of combat systems, expand and strengthen the country's nuclear forces, and modernize military bases through greater standardization and specialization.

Officials also discussed expanding the role of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's military intelligence agency, to enhance its reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capabilities.

In addition, the commission reviewed plans to build modern naval bases and increase shipyard capacity, reflecting what KCNA described as a significant expansion in the navy's role and capabilities. -Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Mark Porter and Jamie Freed/Reuters