North Korea Signals Dual Military Strategy, Pledges Nuclear and Conventional Expansion
North Korea will unveil a new defense policy at its upcoming Workers' Party Congress, with leader Kim Jong Un declaring that the state will advance both nuclear weapons and conventional forces in tandem.
According to state media KCNA, Kim made the pledge during recent visits to weapons research centers and while overseeing a firing drill. He said the Congress would mark a "clear presentation" of the country's military doctrine, underscoring its ambition to strengthen deterrence across the board.
The announcement comes at a moment of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has criticized an upcoming U.S.-South Korea tabletop exercise as a "nuclear war drill," while signaling that its own buildup is a necessary response.
Regional observers say the move formalizes a strategy that has long been visible in practice, with North Korea devoting significant resources to both nuclear programs and modernizing its conventional arsenal. Officials in Seoul and Tokyo warned that strengthening both nuclear and conventional forces at once could heighten instability in Northeast Asia. In Washington, statements focused less on condemnation and more on stressing the importance of close coordination with South Korea and Japan.
Analysts also see the decision as serving a domestic purpose, reinforcing Kim's message of resilience in the face of sanctions and projecting strength at home. "It is not only about nuclear deterrence anymore; Pyongyang is aiming to project an image of a fully capable military power," said one Seoul-based defense researcher.
Experts outside the region also weighed in. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington said the new line from Pyongyang could make planning harder for the U.S. and its allies, since they now have to weigh not only nuclear deterrence but also the chance of more regular military incidents along the border. In Tokyo, the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) warned that the policy might lead to an accelerated regional arms race, as Japan and South Korea strengthen missile defense and expand defense budgets in response.
The implications for U.S.-South Korea strategy are substantial. Joint exercises may need to adapt to the dual nature of North Korea's posture, and Washington could increase diplomatic pressure on China and Russia over their ties with Pyongyang.
With the 9th Congress only weeks away, analysts remain unsure how far Pyongyang can actually push the new strategy. Experts point out that heavy sanctions and a lack of advanced technology leave big holes in Pyongyang's plan. With those limits, and the chance of further isolation, many doubt the strategy can move much beyond slogans.
