North Korea recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of its Air Force on Aviation Day (November 29), showcasing the branch’s historical accomplishments.
The Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published an article on November 29 titled, The Indomitable Phoenix of the Workers’ Party: 80 Years of the Heroic People’s Air Force.
The paper boasted about the Air Force’s alleged victories during the Korean War, claiming they shot down U.S. B-29 heavy bombers and F-80 fighter jets, which they dubbed Kings of the Sky. It also touted the downing of a U.S. EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft in the late 1960s.
The article highlighted the exploits of 14 Air Force pilots who conducted reconnaissance flights prior to the 2009 launch of the Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite.
According to the newspaper, when the enemies arrogantly threatened to intercept the satellite, pilots, under Party orders, engaged in low-altitude maritime flight training, prepared to obliterate enemy fleets and interception capabilities with devastating counterstrikes.
This reconnaissance mission was a response to potential interception attempts by the international community, particularly the U.S. Tragically, one pilot perished in a fighter jet crash during the operation.
North Korea subsequently honored the fallen pilot, Jeong Cheol-joo, as a Hero of the Republic, while lauding the other pilots as valiant warriors.
The newspaper emphasized that the Air Force’s consistent victories and miracles stem not from superior technology or piloting skills, but from the pilots’ unwavering loyalty to their leader and nation.
The article also praised a helicopter unit deployed for civilian rescue operations during severe flooding in the northwest region last summer.
It claimed these units saved thousands of lives in flood-ravaged areas along the Yalu River, including Sinuiju and Uiju County. The paper boasted that while some nations may pride themselves on their air force’s longevity or elite squadrons, none can match the devotion of the pilots, who share life and death with the Party.
North Korea previously observed Air Force Day on August 20, marking the 1947 establishment of its first regular flying unit. However, since 2012, the regime has celebrated Aviation Day on November 29, commemorating Kim Il Sung’s founding of the air force in 1945.
North Korean state media consistently use this annual event to glorify the Air Force’s achievements, likely in an effort to bolster its image among the populace, given that it’s widely considered the weakest branch of the country’s military.