The North Korean Central Military Commission Concludes, High Possibility of Discussing Tactical Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Tests

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea held a three-day expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party but did not mention the 7th nuclear test. However, there is a possibility that related matters were approved privately.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the 3rd expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, attended by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, was held from June 21 to 23 at the Party Central Committee headquarters building.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

General Secretary Kim emphasized at this meeting that "the entire army must uphold and carry out the Party Central Committee's military construction ideology and military strategic intentions, rise up, and fully prepare a powerful self-defense force that can decisively defeat any enemy, thereby reliably safeguarding the dignity of our great motherland and the well-being of our great people."

At this meeting, it was reported that "important military action plans were added to the operational missions of the Korean People's Army frontline units, and significant issues related to establishing military guarantees to further expand and strengthen the country's war deterrence in line with the Party Central Committee's strategic intentions were reviewed and approved, along with ratifying a military organizational restructuring plan for this purpose."

The news agency also stated, "Strategic and tactical tasks to vigorously promote the militarization of military technology and immediate national defense construction missions were confirmed, and organizational and political measures to ensure the thorough implementation of our Party's defense policy were decided."

Considering these points, it is analyzed that North Korea added important military action plans, assigned related missions to deploy and operate tactical nuclear weapons at the frontline, reorganized unit structures, and revised relevant wartime operational plans.

Notably, the meeting decided to add operational missions for frontline units, amend related operational plans, and approve military organizational restructuring for those units.

Regarding this, the news agency reported, "Important military action plans were added to the operational missions of the Korean People's Army frontline units, and significant issues related to establishing military guarantees to further expand and strengthen the country's war deterrence in line with the Party Central Committee's strategic intentions were reviewed and approved, along with ratifying a military organizational restructuring plan for this purpose."

However, the specific important military action plans were not mentioned. Considering this, it appears that North Korea assigned related missions to deploy and operate tactical nuclear weapons at the frontline, reorganized unit structures, and revised relevant wartime operational plans. It is also speculated that preemptive strike instructions against key targets such as major South Korean military facilities were given in case of emergency.

No message related to the 7th nuclear test from General Secretary Kim was issued at this meeting. Since the meeting was held after North Korea had completed preparations for the 7th nuclear test, there was keen interest in whether any message regarding the nuclear test would be announced.

However, if North Korea is considering the actual deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, it is essential to improve the technical completeness of tactical nukes through the 7th nuclear test, so there is also a possibility that related plans were approved privately.