On Wednesday, North Korean Workers’ Party General Secretary Kim Jong Un emphasized the importance of artillery strength while observing an artillery firing competition among units of the Korean People’s Army in the western region.
North Korea’s state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Thursday that Kim Jong Un attended the artillery firing competition organized by the Korean People’s Army’s western regional combined unit to mark the Day of the Sun on Wednesday. Top military brass, including Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, Chief of General Staff Ri Yong-gil, and Chief Political Officer Kim Song-gi, accompanied him at the event.
According to the newspaper, the competition followed regulations simulating a virtual tactical environment, showcasing the participating units’ combat shooting skills and operational readiness. An artillery unit under the Capital Defense Corps clinched first place in the competition.
Kim emphasized that the effective use of artillery power is the most crucial factor in determining the outcome of operations, battles, and ultimately, wars. He added that it must accelerate the preparations for artillery combat in line with the Party’s focus on artillery and its reinforcement. Kim also stressed that the modernization of artillery forces must be fully implemented within the new five-year defense development plan.
Furthermore, Kim declared that the People’s Army must prioritize training to complete combat readiness above all else, and called for frequent organization of training competitions during key events.
This move is seen as an effort to bolster internal unity within the military on the occasion of the Day of the Sun and to reaffirm North Korea’s recent emphasis on practical training and modernization of conventional forces.
Notably, North Korea has recently avoided using the term Day of the Sun, which traditionally refers to Kim Il Sung’s birthday, their most significant holiday. Instead, they have opted for more neutral terms like April 15 or the 114th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth.
A South Korean Unification Ministry official noted that this marks the first time Kim has observed military training on April 15 itself, adding that this trend underscores North Korea’s commitment to strengthening its national defense while also serving as a display of internal unity.
In recent years, several military-related public events have occurred around April 15. These include Kim’s guidance of air force training on April 16, 2019, the announcement of a new tactical guided weapon launch on April 17, 2022, and Kim’s on-site supervision of the first test launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on April 13, 2023.