(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim expects army's 'outstanding' role in next 5 years on founding anniv. of armed forces

▲ North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un visits the Ministry of National Defense on Feb. 8, 2026, to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un visits the Ministry of National Defense on Feb. 8, 2026, to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-military anniversary

(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim expects army's 'outstanding' role in next 5 years on founding anniv. of armed forces

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photos)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the country's armed forces will further play an "outstanding" role in the next five years as he visited the defense ministry to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the military ahead of a key party congress, state media reported Monday.

Kim made a congratulatory visit to the Ministry of National Defense the previous day to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army (KPA), according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

His visit came ahead of the North's ninth party congress set for late February, where Kim is expected to announce his major policies on the military, diplomacy, the economy and other areas for the next five years.

In a speech Sunday, the North's leader hinted that he would unveil a new five-year plan to bolster defense capabilities at the party congress.

"The coming five years that will be indicated by the Ninth Congress of the Party will be years when our army's outstanding role that no one else can perform will become further enhanced," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

In the eighth party congress in 2021, North Korea unveiled a list of high-tech weapons that Kim vowed to develop, including military spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and a nuclear-powered submarine.

On the army anniversary, Kim assessed the North Korean military underwent "unheard-of dramatic events" and carried out "distinguished feats" last year.

"This year is a year of tremendous transformation, when the fighting front of our army will become more widened and which will demand more strenuous efforts," he said.

Kim also extended his warm encouragement and congratulations to commanding officers and combatants of overseas special operations units, referring to troops dispatched to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Since October 2024, North Korea has sent around 15,000 combat troops to Russia's Kursk border region to aid its war efforts.

Kim was accompanied by key defense officials, including Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, on his visit to the defense ministry.

On the occasion of the army founding anniversary, No and other ranking military officials paid their respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where late state founder Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, father of the incumbent leader, lie in state.

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