North Korea’s second-most authoritative newspaper on Friday listed and hailed military achievements made by the country’s leader Kim Jong Un in 2019, in an apparent move to solidify domestic unity against “hostile forces” and “enemies” ahead of the new year.

The article, titled "Relentlessly Cemented the Strongest National Defense” and carried on the second page of Minju Choson, the official organ of North Korea’s Cabinet and the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) Presidium, comes as Pyongyang remains silent on U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun’s visit to Seoul and a fast-approaching party plenum set to be held in late December.