North Korea calls for troops’ greater loyalty to Kim

SEOUL: North Korea urged its 1.2 million troops to unite behind leader Kim Jong-un and defend him with their lives, as the country celebrated the 10th anniversary of Kim’s ascension to supreme commander of the military.

The anniversary comes as North Korea is holding a key multi-day political conference in which officials are expected to discuss how to address difficulties brought by the pandemic and long-dormant diplomacy with the United States.