At a meeting with top political officials, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un outlined several plans to boost his military capabilities in 2019, state media claimed, suggesting he will continue his provocative series of weapons shows.

Wednesday's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that on the second day of the Sixth Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee, Kim assessed the "newly formed tough situation" on the Korean peninsula and the more significant political landscapes.

KCNA reported that Kim "laid forth new important objectives for building the self-reliant defense capability by 2023 in light of the changing multilateral environment."

It said that the third-generation leader determined the "anti-enemy battle" direction and the objectives for bolstering defense power.

KCNA stated, "He outlined the principles of foreign affairs and the path of the war against the enemy that our party and government must strictly adhere to maintain sovereign rights and defend national interests."

This week, South Korea accused the North of flying drones across their shared border for the first time in five years, escalating tensions with the North's neighbor South Korea.

According to experts, North Korea has conducted a record number of missile tests this year to modernize its arsenal and strengthen its leverage in future negotiations with the United States.

Seoul fails to down drones

Observers speculate that Kim's new objectives may be tied to his efforts to increase his nuclear arsenal and introduce a slew of high-tech military systems, including multi-warhead missiles, a more agile long-range weapon, a spy satellite, and advanced drones.

They assert that Kim would eventually seek to utilize his enhanced nuclear capabilities to compel North Korea's opponents to recognize the country as a legitimate nuclear power, a status he would view as crucial to having international sanctions lifted against his country.

Monday, the South Korean military fired warning shots and launched fighter jets and helicopters after identifying five North Korean drones in its airspace.

In response, South Korea also sent its surveillance equipment, most likely unmanned drones, across the border into North Korea.

The military of South Korea acknowledged that it had failed to shoot down the drones and apologized publicly for provoking security worries.

President Yoon Suk Yeol advocated for robust air defense and high-tech stealth drones to properly monitor North Korea.

Some experts believe that the North Korean drone flights were intended to assess the preparedness of South Korea and the United States and to undermine a recent deal to reduce inter-Korean tensions.

According to these sources, North Korea knows that its drone flights have raised security concerns and divisions inside South Korea.