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A new editorial published in a North Korean newspaper claims that the nation's military should defend leader Kim Jong Un, no matter the cost.
According to The Associated Press, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, published a lengthy editorial on the North Korean military.
The author urged commanders and soldiers to become an "impregnable fortress and bulletproof walls in devotedly defending (Kim) with their lives."
The editorial, which does not seem to be available on Rodong Sinmun's official English website, also called for the military to become a "reliable guardian of our state and people."
This editorial is released as North Korean officials continue to convene and discuss the future of the country. The 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party has been meeting over the course of this week to help determine "the struggle of [the] Party and people to usher in a new period of the development of socialist construction to the next stage of victory."
Rodong Sinmun reports that the third day of the meeting convened on December 30, and it is currently unknown whether they will convene for New Year's Eve.
Details on what the committee discussed on its third day has not been revealed. However, the second day involved "organized sectional workshops and entered into a study and discussion to map out plans according to the fighting policies set forth" by Kim.
Independent journalists could not verify this report.
"Kim has used speeches around the new year holiday in the past to make friendly overtures to the U.S. and South Korea," wrote NK News when the meeting first convened, "but also to reveal nuclear weapon developments and other military plans."
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, U.N. sanctions and his own mismanagement.
Despite the present difficulties, few outside analysts question Kim's grip on power. Kim's supreme commander post at the Korean People's Army was the first top job he was given after his father Kim Jong Il's death in 2011.
The current leader holds a slew of other high-profile positions such as general secretary of the Workers' Party and chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
