Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), on Nov. 26 gave an order to promote the military ranks of leading officials and scientists in the defence scientific research field who strikingly demonstrated to the whole world the powerful strength of the DPRK's strategic force.

The order reads:

Our great unremitting cause of building the nuclear force for reliably protecting the dignity and sovereignty of the state and the people through all ages is the greatest and most important revolutionary cause, and its ultimate goal is to possess the world's most powerful strategic force, the absolute force unprecedented in the century.

Our reliable leading officials and scientists in the defence scientific research field, who strived in the indomitable spirit of fulfilling without condition our Party's plan for defence up-building, succeeded in developing and perfecting the new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-17, the world's strongest strategic weapon, and made a wonderful leap forward in the development of the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles, thus fully demonstrating to the whole world the firm resolution, decisive executive ability, great potentials and the confident, ever-victorious future of our state advancing towards the goal of building the world's strongest army.

Highly appreciating, on behalf of the WPK and the DPRK government, the distinguished contribution of the leading officials and scientists who flawlessly completed the most powerful Juche-oriented strategic weapon of our own type with their boundless loyalty, patriotic devotion, extraordinary mental power and inexhaustible creativity, true to our Party's cause of building a strong army and thus more strikingly displayed the great might of the powerful and dignified nuclear power, I issue the following order to promote their military ranks.

Generals: Jang Chang Ha and Kim Jong Sik

Col. General: Kang Kyong Ho

Lieut. Generals: Choe Pyong Wan and Kang Chol Yong

Maj. Generals: Choe Chol Ung, Kim Sun Chol, Ha Jong Guk, Pang Hyon Chol, Kim Chang Rok, Kim Man Sop, Yu Chol U, Ri Kyong and Ri Yong Sok

Senior Colonels: Han Kum Bok, An Kwang Su, Pak Chol Yong, Pak Yong Jin, Jon Chol Su, Ma Chol Wan, Jo Thae Chol, Pak Un Chol, Kim Il Ryong, Kim Kwang Jun, Jon Yong Su, Jong Kwang Chol, Jang Kwang Chol, Rim Man Chol, Jon Chang Nam, Jong Thae Myong, An Tong Chol, Ri Song Chol and Kim Tok Su.

Colonels: Pak Kwang Chol, Kang Chol Su, Kim Won Il, Ri Yong Song, Jon In Hyok, Pak Chol Nam, Kim Hwa Su, Jon Sang Hyok, Yun Jong Su, Kim Hyon U, Kim Song Su, Sin Jae Yong, Choe Sang Min, Pak Song, Kim Yun Il, Kim Myong Gyu, Kim Ho Chol, Ri Pong Il, Pak Song Ryong, Ri Song Jun, Ro Nam Sik, Ro Kyong Su, Hong Kyong Ho, Ri Yong Min, Ko Kyong Il, Song Song Ho, Choe Song Il, Ri Chung Il, Kim Il Su, Pak Jin Hyok, Rim Yu Chol, Yun Myong Chol, Pak Su Jong, Jo Kwang Ho, Ho Song Guk, Pak Myong Chol, Pak Yong Min, Sin Chol Nam, Pak Yong Sik, Ju Pong Sik, Choe Son Nam, Song Yong Chan, Han Kun Ik and Pak Song Ho

Lieut. Colonels: An Chol U, Jon Myong U, Kim Chol, So Hyon Nam, Ri Kwang Myong, Kim Song Rim, Jo Chung Hyok, Yu Chol Ung, Hwang Chon Hyok, Kim Hak Jun, Kim Myong Jin, Paek Hyon U, Kim Myong Chol, Choe Hyon Ju, Ryang Kyong Hyok, Pak Ju Won, An Myong Il and Pak Sung Guk

Majors: Kim Myong Nam, Hwang Hyon Guk and Ri Jong Chol

Senior Captains: Song Ryong Il, Ri Yong Nam, Ri Chung Il, Kim Hyon Sik, Ji Chol Jun and Choe Chung Hyok

Captain: Kim Hae Ryong

Lieutenant: Ryu Hyok