North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has expressed his intention to boost the development of conventional arsenals at the same time as nuclear weapons and missiles.



North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, reported on Saturday that Kim visited institutes of the Academy of Defence Sciences on Thursday and Friday.



He observed the operational test of a defense system to be mounted on things such as armored vehicles, and said that the combat capability of the country's armored forces has been remarkably bolstered.



He also said the planned Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea will put forward the policy of simultaneously pushing forward the building up of nuclear and conventional armed forces.



KCNA also reported that Kim watched training of sniper forces on Friday.



Kim reportedly said snipers should personally experience extreme combat conditions to meet the requirements of modern warfare.



Observers say Pyongyang is working to improve its military equipment by using its experience of sending troops to assist Russia for conflicts in Ukraine, and getting Moscow's technological support in return.