North Korea issues guidelines on strengthening military

In this Jan. 28, 2013 image made from video, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers opening remarks at the Fourth Meeting of Secretaries of Cells of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in Pyongyang, North Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea  — North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un convened a high-level Workers’ Party meeting where he issued “important” guidelines on how to bolster the army and protect the nation’s sovereignty.

North Korea said last month that it would conduct a nuclear test to protest international sanctions toughened over its long-range rocket launch in December.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday that Kim made a “historic” and “important concluding speech” at a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party. It said the speech served as a guideline for strengthening the military and defending national security and sovereignty. KCNA did not say when the meeting took place.

Analyst Hong Hyun-ik said the move suggests North Korea is preparing to conduct an atomic test soon.