For the first time in a decade North Korea held a conference to promote the inspection of the entirety of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) units, including awards for those who meet certain criteria, state media showed on Thursday.

The previous two such meetings were held by late leader Kim Jong Il in 2003 and 2006, during the period of Songun or 'military first' policy, with the third session hosted by Kim Jong Un lasting from Tuesday to Wednesday in Pyongyang, state newspaper the Rodong Sinmun said.