North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises paratroop drills
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, presided over paratroop exercises designed to showcase his soldiers’ capability to swiftly occupy hostile territory, as reported by state media on Saturday. These drills occurred in the wake of the recent annual military maneuvers conducted jointly by the United States and South Korea. Notably, Pyongyang has exhibited heightened sensitivity towards such joint air force exercises, given the perceived vulnerability of its own air force, a noted weakness in its military arsenal.
The latest exercises, under Kim’s supervision, were aimed at assessing the readiness of paratroopers to swiftly mobilize under unexpected wartime conditions and evaluating their operational effectiveness. The Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang’s official media outlet, emphasized the troops’ demonstrated proficiency in swiftly seizing enemy territory upon receiving orders.
Kim Jong Un emphasized the necessity of employing realistic and scientific training methodologies to ensure maximum combat efficiency on contemporary battlefields, according to the report. He expressed great satisfaction with the performance of the airborne soldiers, noting their successful occupation of simulated enemy military targets.
Accompanying Kim during the drills was his young daughter, Ju Ae, who was depicted observing the exercises through binoculars alongside her father and senior military officials. Images released by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showcased ground troops assuming positions while paratroopers descended from above, illustrating the scale and coordination of the drills.
This announcement from Pyongyang follows recent claims of Kim’s demonstration of a purported “new-type main battle tank,” described by North Korean authorities as the most potent in the world. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington concluded their annual Freedom Shield exercises this week, featuring an expanded deployment of troops compared to the previous year, which Pyongyang had vehemently opposed.
The tensions between North and South Korea, exacerbated by the ongoing military exercises and Pyongyang’s aggressive rhetoric, have prompted South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik to emphasize the importance of preparing for potential conflict scenarios. During the Washington-Seoul drills, Shin visited the headquarters of the army’s Special Warfare Command, underscoring the necessity of mastering advanced combat skills to swiftly neutralize threats posed by North Korea.
Throughout the year, Pyongyang has escalated its bellicose rhetoric, designating South Korea as its “principal enemy” and abandoning initiatives aimed at reconciliation. The regime has repeatedly warned of dire consequences for any perceived encroachment on its territorial sovereignty, further heightening tensions in the region.
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