North Korean leader Kim Jong Un emphasized that while the country has made significant progress in building a powerful military, weapons without ideology are merely “ironware.” Speaking at Kim Il Sung University of Politics, Kim highlighted the importance of loyalty and ideological strength within the military, as reported by state media on Tuesday.
His remarks come amid political uncertainties at home, with reports suggesting that many of North Korea’s over 10,000 troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine are facing heavy casualties.
Kim underscored that the Korean People’s Army (KPA) aspires to become the world’s strongest, but the true focus should be on the “political, ideological, spiritual, and moral advantages” of the army serving the Party and the people. According to the KCNA news agency, Kim stated, “Arms without ideology are nothing more than ironware,” and emphasized that building the KPA must always prioritize strengthening the army politically, ideologically, and morally.
Kim Il Sung University of Politics trains officers who later serve in the influential political sector of North Korea’s military, which includes over 1 million active-duty soldiers under the control of the ruling Workers’ Party.
Kim also praised the military’s “unmatched loyalty and heroism” in facing hardships and sacrifices when called upon by the nation. He stressed that the army’s ideological and moral strength directly translates to its qualitative superiority.
Though Kim did not directly mention the United States or South Korea, he has previously blamed the allies for escalating regional tensions and has pledged countermeasures, including the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. Despite former U.S. President Donald Trump expressing intentions to reach out to Kim, tensions remain high.
North Korea has yet to officially acknowledge its military involvement in supporting Russia during the Ukraine war.
