State media said on Friday (local time) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the strengthening of the country’s defense capabilities as he wraps up an important party meeting with senior military officials amid concerns over a possible North Korean nuclear test.

The meeting was watched closely amid growing speculation that Pyongyang could conduct its first nuclear test in five years, which U.S. and South Korean officials say could happen “anytime”.

According to the official, Kim led the 8th Central Military Commission Extended Meeting, which lasted three days and ended Thursday, where officials “studied and approved the important issue of providing military guarantees to further strengthen the country’s deterrence against war.” KCNA agency.

The KCNA report makes no direct mention of North Korea’s nuclear or ballistic missile programs, but claims that Ri Pyong Chol, who spearheaded North Korea’s missile development, was elected vice-chairman of the Party’s powerful Central Military Commission.

KCNA, “(Kim) underlined that the entire Army should strengthen in every way its strong self-defense capabilities to eliminate enemy forces.” Said.

During the meeting, North Korea rarely mentioned that it would review its war plans and said it had decided to strengthen the operational duties of its frontline troops with a “substantial military action plan”.