North Korea calls for troops鈥� greater loyalty to Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers鈥� Party on Dec. 28, 2021. (KCNA via Reuters)
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  • North Korea has previously issued similar propaganda-heavy statements urging people to rally behind leader in times of difficulties

SEOUL: North Korea on Thursday urged its 1.2 million troops to unite behind leader Kim Jong Un and defend him with their lives, as the country celebrated the 10th anniversary of Kim鈥檚 ascension to supreme commander of the military.
The anniversary comes as North Korea is holding a key multi-day political conference in which officials are expected to discuss how to address difficulties brought by the pandemic and long-dormant diplomacy with the United States.
In a lengthy editorial, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said that North Korea鈥檚 military commanders and soldiers must become an 鈥渋mpregnable fortress and bulletproof walls in devotedly defending (Kim) with their lives.鈥�
It also called for building a more modernized, advanced military that serves as a 鈥渞eliable guardian of our state and people.鈥� The editorial said all of North Korea鈥檚 troops and people must uphold Kim鈥檚 leadership to establish a powerful socialist country.
North Korea has previously issued similar propaganda-heavy statements urging people to rally behind Kim in times of difficulties. Some experts say Kim has been grappling with the toughest moment of his 10-year rule due to the coronavirus pandemic, UN sanctions and his own mismanagement.
On Monday, Kim opened a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers鈥� Party to review past projects and determine major policies for next year. In two days of meetings, Kim set unspecified development strategies for the country鈥檚 rural development, while participants discussed next year鈥檚 budget and other agendas, according to state media.
Observers say North Korea will likely disclose Kim鈥檚 stances on relations with Washington and Seoul, the deadlocked nuclear diplomacy and the economic hardships at the end of the plenary meeting expected later this week.
Despite the present difficulties, few outside analysts question Kim鈥檚 grip on power. Kim鈥檚 supreme commander post at the Korean People鈥檚 Army was the first top job he was given after his father Kim Jong Il鈥檚 death in 2011. The current leader holds a slew of other high-profile positions such as general secretary of the Workers鈥� Party and chairman of the State Affairs Commission.