North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on his armed forces to prepare “for real war” at a military artillery contest held on July 23. The Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim urging troops to be combat-ready “at any time,” and capable of “destroying the enemy in every battle.”
Footage from Korea Central Television on July 24 showed Kim overseeing live-fire artillery drills from an observation post, accompanied by military officials. Though the exact location was not disclosed, the display is being viewed as a strong message of military readiness.
Kim’s comments come on the heels of increased military cooperation with Russia, including sending weapons and troops to support Moscow’s prolonged offensive in Ukraine.
This renewed show of force raises broader questions about global military strength and preparedness. Although there are many ways to measure a nation’s military force and capacity, one method to evaluate a nation’s ability to effectively engage in warfare is literally by counting the number of active military personnel. A nation’s military is considered one of its most valuable assets in enforcing both domestic and foreign policy.
Which 20 nations have the largest numbers of active military personnel in the world? Click on to find out.