What matters most to Kim Jong Un: A powerful military or a military that remains loyal to him?

North Korea has treated its military as a central pillar of the regime for decades. It has developed nuclear weapons and missiles, expanded military cooperation with Russia, and increased its military influence on the Korean Peninsula. But a series of developments inside North Korea in 2026 points to another concern. For the leadership in Pyongyang, maintaining the military’s political loyalty and organizational control may be just as important as strengthening its combat capabilities.