Kim Jong Un directs North Korea to transform its border into an “impregnable fortress.”

SEOUL, May 18 — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called on senior military officials to strengthen frontline units and transform the southern border into an “impregnable fortress,” state media reported today.

The directive was issued during a meeting held yesterday, where images released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim presiding over top commanders dressed in full military uniform.

According to KCNA, Kim told officials that a “great change” would be undertaken to deter war, and urged commanders to adopt a firmer “outlook on the arch enemy,” in an apparent reference to South Korea.

He also outlined plans to enhance frontline and key military units in both military capability and technical capacity as part of efforts to strengthen deterrence, the report said.

Analysts noted that the strategy appears influenced by lessons drawn from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, amid already strained inter-Korean relations and Pyongyang’s continued rejection of Seoul’s dialogue proposals.

The meeting coincided with the arrival of North Korea’s women’s football team in South Korea — the first such visit in eight years — a rare development that briefly raised hopes of easing tensions.

KCNA further quoted Kim as describing a ruling party policy focused on “territorial defence,” aimed at reinforcing frontline units along the southern border and turning it into a fortified line.

He also stressed that military modernisation efforts should accelerate, including redefining operational concepts across all domains.

Hong Min, senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the remarks reflect lessons from the Ukraine conflict, where North Korea has reportedly supported Russia with troops.

He noted that the comments point to growing awareness of modern warfare involving drones, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and multi-domain operations.

The strategy, he added, suggests an expansion of military planning beyond land, sea, and air to include underwater, space, electronic, and cyber domains. — AFP