North Korean leader Kim Jong Un emphasized the importance of strengthening artillery forces during a visit to observe an artillery firing competition between units of the Korean People’s Army’s Western Front Combined Forces. The event was held to mark the Day of the Sun (Kim Il Sung’s birthday on April 15).
On Thursday, North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim attended the artillery competition organized among artillery units under the Korean People’s Army’s Western Front Combined Forces on Wednesday, in honor of the Day of the Sun. Top military officials, including Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, Chief of General Staff Ri Yong-gil, and Director of the Political Bureau Kim Song-gi, accompanied Kim at the event.
According to the newspaper, the competition was conducted under regulations simulating a virtual tactical environment. Participating units demonstrated their combat firing skills and battle readiness. An artillery unit from the Capital Defense Corps claimed the top spot in the competition.
Kim stressed that the effective use of artillery forces is crucial in determining the outcome of operations, battles, and wars. He urged further acceleration of artillery combat preparations in line with the party’s policy of prioritizing and strengthening artillery capabilities. Kim also emphasized that the artillery modernization plan must be fully implemented within the new five-year defense development plan.
The North Korean leader further stated that the People’s Army must focus solely on training to complete combat readiness. He called for frequent organization of training competitions at key events.
This move is seen as an effort to bolster internal military cohesion on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and reaffirm North Korea’s recent emphasis on enhancing practical training and modernizing conventional forces.
Notably, North Korea has recently reduced its use of the term Day of the Sun when referring to the birthday of the late leader Kim Il Sung. Instead, they have been using simpler references such as 4.15 or Kim Il Sung’s 114th birthday.