"Same facial mole and gait?" ... Kim Jong Un appears in a show of defiance, rendering death rumors moot

Kim Jong Un: "Build the Strongest Army by Developing the Strongest Companies"
Guided Company Commanders' Meeting in Pyongyang on October 22-23
Calls for Ideological Readiness and Stronger Combat Capabilities

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the combat capabilities of companies, the military’s basic combat units, and establishing discipline within the military. Amid the spread of rumors of his death, particularly on overseas social media, images were also released showing him attending a large-scale military event.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the 3rd Company Commanders’ Conference of the Korean People’s Army in Pyongyang on Oct. 22 and 23, and delivered a speech on “Building a Strong Army in the New Era and the Duties of Company Commanders,” the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 24th. Yonhap News Agency

According to the Korean Central News Agency on October 24, Kim presided over the 3rd Company Commanders’ Conference of the Korean People’s Army, held in Pyongyang on October 22 and 23, and delivered a speech titled “Building a Strong Army in the New Era and the Duties of Company Commanders.”

In his speech, Kim stressed the need to accelerate North Korea’s military revolution, saying, “We must build the strongest military by developing the strongest companies.”

He called for all military companies to be ideologically prepared and highly proficient in military technology. He also said their combat capabilities and organizational systems must be raised to a level befitting an elite military.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un chaired the 3rd Conference of Company Commanders of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang on October 22 and 23, and delivered a speech on "Building a Strong Military in the New Era and the Missions of Company Commanders," the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 24th. Yonhap News Agency

In particular, he urged company commanders to focus on ideological education for soldiers and establishing discipline in the military. He also emphasized the need to manage units based on strict military regulations and continuously improve soldiers’ living conditions.

The event has also drawn attention because it took place amid the recent spread of rumors of Kim’s death. On October 20, North Korea released images of Kim visiting an exhibition hall for the light industry sector, and on October 24 it reported his attendance at the military event.

Earlier, on October 23, the National Intelligence Service told the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee that the rumors of Kim’s death were untrue.

Yonhap News Agency

The conference was attended by senior military officials and company commanders from across the ranks, including Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Military Commission; Defense Minister Kim Song Gi; Yu Kwang-u, first deputy director of the Korean People’s Army General Political Bureau; and Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong Gil.

North Korea said the conference reflected its plan to develop each company into an elite combat unit capable of independently carrying out a range of combat missions.

The event also featured a report by Defense Minister Kim Song Gi, the screening of a video featuring company commanders’ combat experiences, and an award ceremony honoring exemplary company commanders.

According to North Korean media reports, this was the third Company Commanders’ Conference, following those held in November 1991 and February 1999. However, a conference attended jointly by company commanders and company political instructors was also held in March 2019.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.