N.K. highlights its leader's military accomplishments ahead of anniversary

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Saturday highlighted its leader Kim Jong-un's accomplishments of taking a tight grip on the military and eradicating corruption in the armed forces ahead of a key anniversary.

Sunday marks the seventh anniversary of Kim being designated as the country's top military commander following the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December 2011.

Under Kim's leadership, the military's discipline has been strengthened in a way that has made the armed forces show absolute obedience to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), according to the state-run television network.

The country has also been waging a drive to eradicate widespread corruption in the military, a top North Korean official was quoted as saying by the TV station.

Kim Su-gil, director of the Korean People's Army's (KPA) general political bureau, made the remarks at a meeting involving military officials ahead of the anniversary.

Kim's late father advocated a military first, or "songun," policy. But the young leader has shifted his focus to the WPK while expanding his control on the military leadership through personnel overhaul.

The KPA general also stressed that the military is armed with advanced weapons through the development of its indigenous technology. But he stopped short of mentioning what the country called the completion of its nuclear force.

Pyongyang announced in November 2017 that it had completed its nuclear force with the launch of its third intercontinental ballistic missile.

Since early this year, North Korea has pursued a peace offensive toward South Korea and the United States and agreed to work toward complete denuclearization.

But denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang have made little progress since a historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim in June.
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