Recent public appearances by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have helped reveal the location of one of the country’s major mechanized infantry unit headquarters, U.S.-based North Korea-focused outlet NK News reported Tuesday.
North Korean state media, including Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, reported last month that Kim visited a combined unit under a mechanized infantry division and observed a mortar firing competition marking the anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army on April 25. However, the reports did not disclose the location of the base.
According to NK News, Kim met senior officers from the 425th Mechanized Infantry Division at the Ssangun-ri Revolutionary Historic Site in Sukchon County, South Pyongan Province. The outlet also said a light infantry mortar drill involving large combined units likely took place at a nearby training facility east of Ssangun-ri.
NK News said the strongest evidence linking the site to the 425th Division was the presence of division commander Maj. Gen. Kim Hyong Jin, who welcomed Kim at the scene.
Maj. Gen. Kim previously led division troops during major military events, including parades held in Pyongyang in October last year and February this year. Col. Kim Chung Song, commander of a brigade under the 425th Division, also accompanied the visit, and his name tag reportedly displayed the number “425,” according to the report.
NK News said it identified the geographic location by comparing buildings and surrounding mountain terrain shown in North Korean media photos with satellite imagery of the Ssangun-ri revolutionary site.
Satellite images reportedly showed a large new structure appearing on a hillside at a training area about 0.9 miles southeast of the Ssangun-ri training ground between April 18 and April 21. White markings were also visible on the hillside, which NK News said closely resembled target lines seen in photographs from the mortar drills.
NK News added that Kim likely visited the 425th Division because the unit’s name appears to derive from the April 25 national holiday commemorating the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army.
