North Korea’s Kim lays out key goals to boost military power

By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented new plans to further bolster his military power next year at a meeting of the nation’s political officials. Kim’s comments reported by state media Wednesday indicate he’ll continue provocative weapons tests after a record run of missile launches this year. Some observers say the new goals that were not disclosed publicly could be related to Kim’s push to expand his nuclear arsenal and acquire high-tech weapons systems such as multi-warhead missiles, a spy satellite and advanced drones. They say Kim would eventually aim to use his boosted nuclear power to force its rivals to accept the North as a nuclear state, a status he thinks is essential in getting sanctions lifted.