North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw an artillery firing contest on April 15, the Day of the Sun marking state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), participating Korean People's Army (KPA) subunits demonstrated 'militant marksmanship' and a 'full war posture.' Kim called artillery utilization 'the most important factor deciding victory in operation, battle, and war.'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw an artillery firing contest of Korean People's Army (KPA) artillery subunits under large combined units in the western area on April 15, the Day of the Sun, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.
Participating subunits demonstrated "militant marksmanship" and a "full war posture," with the Capital City Defence Corps' artillery subunit taking top spot, followed by the KPA's 4th Corps, KCNA said.
Kim expressed satisfaction with the contest held on the "greatest auspicious" national holiday, calling it "an important occasion" to boost artillery training enthusiasm and strengthen combat capability. He described the utilization of artillery forces as "the most important factor deciding the victory in operation and battle and furthermore in war," urging the KPA to enhance artillery combat readiness and thoroughly implement modernization under a new five-year defense development plan.
"The KPA should be engrossed only in the training for rounding off the combat preparations," Kim said, adding that "it is precisely the way for realizing the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung's desire for building a powerful army."
North Korea observes the Day of the Sun, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, as one of its most important national holidays. Premier Pak Thae-song, Supreme People's Assembly Chairman Jo Yong-won, and other officials visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, but Kim sent only a flower basket and did not appear to visit for the fourth consecutive year since 2023.
