SEOUL, Dec 7 Reuters - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the military education system must redouble its efforts to turn out officers who remain absolutely loyal to the country's ruling party.
Kim made remarks over the weekend at the Eighth Conference of Military Educationists of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, according to state news agency KCNA.
He stressed the need to prepare all military educationists to be true soldiers who are extremely loyal to the idea and leadership of the Party and to organise and provide military education, strictly guided by the Party's idea, policy and method, so that all cadets can be commanding officers who remain absolutely loyal to the Party Central Committee, KCNA reported.
The report said there were some deviations seen in military education because of the lack of ideological awareness.
The campaign to boost political loyalty was the latest in a series of events and public relations campaigns that focused on boosting political loyalty as Kim prepares to mark 10 years in power this month.
In November North Korea held a conference where Kim announced plans to expand a loyalty reward system, and state media has broadcast a series of stories on the wayward youth who found redemption through hard physical labour for the party.
The country has been grappling with economic crises caused by the self-imposed anti-pandemic border lockdowns, natural disasters, and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.