North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed the need to strengthen the military's morale and boost combat readiness at a military gathering for exemplary servicemen, the North's media said Thursday.

The leader made a speech at the meeting for commanding officers and soldiers from military units, which won the title of the O Jung-hup-led 7th Regiment, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The O Jung-hup-led 7th Regiment served as the military unit that defended the command of the North's late founder Kim Il-sung in the 1930s, when Koreans waged an independence struggle against Japan's colonial rule (1910-45).

What's important is "to direct primary efforts to strengthen the army in political, ideological and moral aspects," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.
"It is also important to channel efforts into rounding off the combat preparations and organize all works in this aspect," the report said.

The meeting, the third of its kind, was the first military event for the Korean People's Army since the ruling party's congress held in early May. It also marked the first meeting since 2006.

In 1996, the North's former leader Kim Jong-il ordered a mass movement to be held with the winner to be given the title of the 7th regiment in a bid to bolster the KPA's morale.

In 2003 and 2006, the communist country held meetings of the KPA's activists for such a mass movement.

An official at Seoul's unification ministry said that the meeting appeared to be aimed at tightening the military's discipline as North Korea has completed the overhaul of organizations and reshuffling of officials for the leader's rule.

"The meeting seemed to be aimed at checking the military's morale and strengthening discipline," the official said, asking not to be named.

On Wednesday, North Korea fired off two Rodong mid-range ballistic missiles with one of them presumed to have landed in waters near Japan, raising tension in the region.

"As there is a possibility that North Korean servicemen could make provocative acts to excessively show loyalty to their leader, we are closely analyzing the purpose of the military meeting," an official in the South Korean military said.  (Yonhap)