North Korea commands army to achieve state economic goals

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- North Korea is ordering its military to play a greater role in economic construction after Kim Jong Un revealed a new five-year plan in January during the Eighth Party Congress.

Korean Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said Monday the military is an exemplary institution in the country.

"The Korean People's Army is a model group that has been at the forefront of the Workers' Party's socialist construction initiative," the Rodong said.

"In the struggle to achieve a new victory in socialist construction, we must fully display the power of military-civilian unity, military-civilian campaigns."

According to the Rodong, the North Korean mining town of Komdok must become a model city and play a "leading role" in building a "socialist frontier."

North Korean state media also said the military is subordinated to the ruling Workers' Party.

"The entire army must unconditionally obey orders of the central party, and do only what the party says," the Rodong said, the same day the regime observes Feb. 8 as its army anniversary, also known as "army-building day."

North Korea's military plays a key source of manpower in the country. Under Kim, the military was reportedly mobilized in disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of heavy flooding. Building projects also require military manpower, according to defectors in the South.

Pyongyang has not tested missiles after Kim said in January hypersonic projectiles are under development.

U.S. analysts said there is evidence of activity at Sohae Satellite Launching Station, however. The facility has previously launched rockets to send satellites into orbit. Observers say Pyongyang's space program is a fig leaf for weapons tests.

Analysts Peter Makowsky and Jack Liu said in an analysis of satellite imagery on 38 North "active snow removal" is underway at the North Korean facility.

"Imagery from Jan. 30 reveals the rapid removal of newly fallen snow throughout the Sohae complex, ensuring consistent access to the principal facilities," the analysts said.

North Korea has abandoned denuclearization talks since 2019.