North Korea’s Kim says weapons without ideology are ‘ironware’, driving home military loyalty

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un remarked that the nation has made significant progress in developing a strong military; however, he asserted that weapons devoid of ideology are merely “ironware,” while emphasizing fidelity to some of its top military units, according to state media on Tuesday.

Kim’s statements at the Kim Il Sung University of Politics arise during a period of domestic political instability, as many of the over 10,000 troops engaged in combat for Russia against Ukraine are reportedly facing significant casualties.

As the Korean People’s Army (KPA) aims to become the world’s strongest military, and the focus of the mission should be “none other than the political, ideological, spiritual and moral advantages of the army of the Party and the people,” Kim said.

“Saying that arms without ideology are little short of ironware … he clarified building the KPA should be invariably and thoroughly oriented toward giving priority to making the army politically, ideologically and morally strong,” KCNA news agency reported.

The institution serves as the preparatory site for officers who later participate in the influential political framework of over 1 million active military personnel in the nation, enforcing political authority as guided by the ruling Workers’ Party. Kim stated that the party greatly values “the unparalleled loyalty and bravery of facing challenges and sacrifices willingly when the nation demands,” further noting that “the army’s ideological and moral supremacy reflects its qualitative superiority.”

Kim did not explicitly refer to the United States or South Korea in his address, but he has claimed that the allies are responsible for escalating regional tensions and promised counteractions such as increasing nuclear weapons, even though U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would try to engage with Kim.