Holds Central Military Commission Meeting, Kim Jong-un Gathers North Korean Senior Generals, What's Up?

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un convened the country's senior military generals for a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, the state news agency said.

Citing Reuters from KCNA on June 22, Kim Jong-un chaired a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission starting on Tuesday to review defense work during the first half of 2022, confirming "important and urgent tasks" to expand military capabilities and implement major defense policies.

The meeting is also to discuss national defense policies and sustainable weapons development following a series of ballistic missile tests this year that have raised tensions with Washington and Seoul.

The report did not detail any plans or mention any critical comments against the United States or rival South Korea.

US and South Korean officials have said in recent months Pyongyang could prepare to carry out its first nuclear test since 2017, when Leader Kim raised the threshold aimed at cementing North Korea's status as a nuclear power, negotiating economic and security concessions from a position of strength.

KCNA said the commission was starting to discuss the agenda presented, suggesting the meeting may continue for days.

Members could discuss progress in weapons development and plans to deploy several systems that have been tested in recent months, including hypersonic missiles, long-range cruise missiles, and the country's newest long-range cruise missile and intercontinental ballistic missile, said Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst at South Korea's private Sejong Institute.

North Korea's increased testing activity has occurred under the five-year weapons development plan that Leader Kim announced in early 2021 when he revealed a broad wish list of advanced military assets, including tactical nuclear weapons, nuclear-powered submarines, multi-war missiles, and solid-fuel, long-range weapons.

North Korea has set an annual record in ballistic launches in the first half of 2022, firing 31 missiles at more than 18 different launch events, including the first demonstration of an ICBM in nearly five years.

Meanwhile, US and South Korean officials said North Korea had completed all preparations to detonate a nuclear device at its test site in the northeastern city of Punggye-ri.