KPA Holds Military Exercises to Commemorate Anniversary

Kim Jong Un waves to participants and attendees at military exercises by KPA Unit #655. In attendance in this image are: VMar Kim Yong Chun (L); VMar Choe Ryong Hae (3rd L); VMar Kim Jong Gak (4th L) Gen. Kim Kyong Ok (3rd R) and VMar Ri Yong Ho (R) (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un attends a photo-op with KPA commanders and senior officials (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

DPRK state media reported on 27 April (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and other members of the central leadership observed live fire exercises of Korean People’s Army [KPA] Unit #655.  KJU was reported as having commanded the exercises which were held to commemorate the KPA’s official anniversary.  Kim Jong Il was reported to have conducted a field inspection of KPA Unit #655 on 8 February 2001, the date commemorated as the KPA’s anniversary until 1978.

KCNA reports:

He was greeted by KPA Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, director of the KPA General Political Bureau, KPA Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho, chief of the KPA General Staff, KPA Vice Marshal Kim Jong Gak, minister of the People’s Armed Forces, KPA General Choe Pu Il and KPA Col. Gen. Son Chol Ju before the observation post of the training field.

Waiting for him in the field were Hyon Chol Hae, Kim Won Hong, Ri Myong Su, Pak Jae Gyong, Ri Pyong Chol, Kim Yong Chol, Yun Jong Rin, Jo Kyong Chol, Pak Jong Chon and members of the NDC, staff members of the KPA Supreme Command and commanding officers of the KPA large combined units.

Watching the exercises were Kim Kyong Hui, Jang Song Thaek, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Ki Nam, Yang Hyong Sop, Pak To Chun, Kang Sok Ju, Kim Yong Il, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Phyong Hae, Mun Kyong Dok, Kim Chang Sop, Ri Pyong Sam, Kwak Pom Gi, O Il Jong, Kim Kyong Ok, Ri Jae Il, Han Kwang Sang, Kim Myong Guk, and leading officials of the party, state and armed forces organs, members of the party central guidance bodies in Pyongyang, officials of ministries and national institutions and those in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health, media and defence industry and KPA officers and men.

After receiving a salute from the chief of the KPA General Staff, Kim Jong Un mounted an observation post before being briefed on the plan and distribution of units for the exercises.

He issued an order to start the exercises.

The moment stormy roars of powerful firepower strike means rocked heaven and earth with ceaseless shower of shells and bombs. Brave flying corps struck targets one after another leaving trails in the sky. Tanks and armored cars made a dash at the “enemy’s positions” and a-match-for-a hundred fighters occupied the “enemy’s posts” in a moment.

Volley firing roared, rending the air, and the “enemy’s positions” clouded with powder smoke turned to the sea of fire in no time.

Expressing satisfaction over the successful exercises to which the Juche war methods were applied, he set forth important tasks for further rounding off the combat preparations of the KPA.

In order to accomplish generation after generation the revolutionary cause of Juche, the Songun revolutionary cause which was pioneered in the thick forest of Mt. Paektu, it is necessary to continue paying big efforts to strengthening the KPA, he said.

All the officers and men should firmly prepare themselves to be stalwart fighters possessed of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s invincible strategies and tactics, brave attack mode and perfect capacity for fighting an actual war, he noted.

He called for mercilessly wiping out the enemies with the arms of justice and revenge if they dare provoke.

The Korean-style socialist system centered on the popular masses will shine forever as an indestructible fortress as it is being defended by the heroic KPA that has grown to be iron-willed and matchless elite army under the care of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il over the past 80 years, he stressed.

He had a photo session with major commanding officers of the KPA, staff members of the KPA Supreme Command, commanding officers of the KPA large combined units and officials who accompanied him.

Kim Jong Un watches military exercises of KPA Unit #655. In attendance and visible in this image are: Gen. Kim Myo'ng-kuk (background, L), Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong (2nd L), Gen. Pak Chae-kyo'ng (3rd L), Gen. Kim Kyong-ok (4th L), VMar Choe Ryo'ng-hae (3rd R), Gen. Kim Yong Chol (2nd R) and VMar Kim Jong Gak (R) (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un waves to the audience at the U'nhasu Orchestra concert held to commemorate the KPA's 80th anniversary (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media also reported on 27 April that Kim Jong Un and members of the core leadership attended a performance of the U’nhasu Orchestra, programmed for the KPA’s anniversary.  KCNA reports:

The performance began with the playing of the national anthem. Put on the stage were prelude “Let Us Not Forget the Pledge Made to the Revolution”, male duet and chorus “We Will Defend Han Byol”, orchestral music and chorus of the immortal classic “Song of Anti-Japanese War”, mixed quartet and chorus “Song Devoted to Marshal Kim Il Sung”, female quintet “We Sing of Our Country Holding the Leader in High Esteem”, chorus “Ballad of Mt. Singo”, female solo and pangchang “Song of Love for People”, children’s quartet “We Are Happy”, chorus “Leader, Just Give Us Your Order”, female solo “Under the Banner of the Party”, narration and orchestral music “Our Arms Say” and chorus “Korea, Advance” and other colorful numbers.

The performers vividly depicted the glorious 100-year history of Juche Korea that is eternally glorified thanks to the undying feats of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and the rosy future that is in store for Korea as it has Kim Jong Un at the top post of the WPK, state and army.

The concert ended with the immortal revolutionary paean “Song of General Kim Il Sung”.

Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over the successful performance.

He gave the highest appreciation to the orchestra, saying it is an art troupe to which Kim Jong Il had shown particular care.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the artistes of the orchestra will arouse more dynamically the service personnel and people to the general advance of the Songun revolution through their performing activities.

Among the audience were Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Yong Ho, Kim Kyong Hui, Kim Jong Gak, Jang Song Thaek, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Ki Nam, Pak To Chun, Hyon Chol Hae, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Kyong Ok and Kim Myong Guk.

Members of the central leadership in attendance at the U'nhasu Orchestra concert (L-R): Pak To Chun; Jang Song Taek; Kim Ki Nam; Choe Ryong Hae; Kim Jong Un; Ri Yong Ho; Kim Jong Gak; Kim Yong Chun; Kim Kyong Hui; and, Hyon Chol Hae (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un Attends 2 More Photo Ops

Kim Jong Un waves to managers and employees of the Mansudae Art Studio during a photo op with them, reported by DPRK media on 20 April (Photo: KCNA)

A commemorative photo of Kim Jong Un, other members of the DPRK central leadership and employees of the Mansudae Art Studio (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on Friday (20 April) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended two commemorative photo sessions at Ku’msusan Memorial Palace.  His first photo op was with the managers, party officials and personnel of the Mansudae Art Studio.  KJU was accompanied by SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim, Director of the KPA General Political Bureau Choe Ryong Hae, NDC Vice Chairman Jang Song Taek and KWP Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department [PAD] Kim Ki Nam and PAD Senior Deputy (1st Vice) Director Ri Jae Il and PAD Deputy (Vice) Director Kwon Hyok Byong.   KCNA reports:

Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, had a picture taken with officials, creators and employees of the Mansudae Art Studio.

Before having a photo session with them, Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated them on their big successes in the creative work to portray the leaders including the erection of the statues of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill and in the drive to thoroughly implement the WPK’s Juche-oriented literary and art policy.

He expressed expectation and conviction that they would bring about a fresh turn in the work to portray the leaders and create many more masterpieces fully reflecting the Korean people’s thoughts and feelings and the spirit of the times and thus creditably discharge their mission and duty they have assumed before the party and the revolution.

Managers and employees of the Mansudae Art Studio greet Kim Jong Un during a commemorative photo session at Ku'msusan Memorial Palace (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un (seated, C) poses for a commemorative photograph with participants in the 15 April 2012 military parade held in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un’s second photo op was with participants of the military parade held in Pyongyang on 15 April, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung.  Also in attendance were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Kim Ki Nam as well as Chief of the KPA General Staff VMar Ri Yong Ho, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces VMar Kim Jong Gak, NDC Vice Chairman and director of the KWP Civil Defense Department VMar Kim Yong Chun, KWP Secretary of Military Industry Pak To Chun, 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Director of the KPA General Logistics Department VMar Hyon Chol Hae, Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department Ju Kyu Chang, Director of the KWP Military Affairs Department Col. Gen. O Il Jong, Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff Gen. Choe Pu Il, Deputy (Vice) Director of the KPA General Political Bureau Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, Chief of the KPA Reconnaissance General Bureau Gen. Kim Yong Chol, Military Security Commander Col. Gen. Jo Kyong Chol, KPA Foreign Affairs Department official Col. Gen. Sim Sang Dae, Col. Gen. Son Chol Ju, Col. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon and Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon.

A commemorative photograph of DPRK central leadership with participants in the military parade held on the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

KCNA reports:

Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, had a photo session with the participants in the military parade for celebrating the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung.

After arriving at the square of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Kim Jong Un waved back to the enthusiastic cheers of the participants, extending a warm salute to them.

He congratulated the service personnel of the three services and the Strategic Rocket Forces of the KPA and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards and students of revolutionary schools on demonstrating the spirit of Songun Korea and tremendous national power through their parade.

He expressed expectation that the participants in the parade would fulfill their mission as standard bearers and shock brigades in invariably preserving the revolutionary nature of the KPA just like the character of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and fully demonstrating the fighting method of the powerful revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu holding aloft the red flag of the WPK as its first colors.

This was the first instance that a KCNA news item directly referred to the KPA Strategic Rocket Force Command [SRFC] since Kim Jong Un’s inspection of the SRFC’s complex near Kangdong County during late February 2012.  When Kim Jong Un delivered his speech before last Sunday’s parade, according to KCBS he addressed “heroic officers of the army, the navy, the air force and the strategic rocket unit of the KPA and officers of the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces.”  However, KCNA English reporting on the parade and KJU’s speech omitted any references to the SRFC or “the strategic rocket unit of the KPA.”

Kim Jong Un Ordered Suspension of Military Training After KJI Death

In one of his first acts as central leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un ordered the suspension of the Korean People’s Army’s [KPA] annual winter training cycle prior to DPRK media publicizing the death of Kim Jong Il.  After the July 1994 death of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il issued a similar order and many KPA officers and service members remained in barracks.  Yonhap reports:

The North’s state media reported Kim Jong-il’s death Monday, two days after it occurred. The Seoul source said before the passing was announced, Kim Jong-un ordered all military units to halt field exercises and training and return to their bases.

“This is a direct example showing Kim Jong-un’s complete control over the military,” the source said, adding the move also indicated that the younger Kim is poised to become the top commander of the North’s military.

Kim Jong-un became vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party and a four-star general last year, indicating Kim Jong-il’s intentions to make his youngest known son the country’s next leader.

South Korean intelligence officials had previously believed Kim Jong-un had not yet assumed full control over the armed forces in the aftermath of his father’s sudden death.

Officials were only able to confirm that Jong-un’s order two days after he’d issued it. Won Sei-hoon, head of Seoul’s National Intelligence Service, and Kim Kwan-jin, the South’s defense minister, came under fire Tuesday after admitting the service learned of Kim Jong-il’s death from television news coverage.

South Korean officials said they have not observed any unusual activity from north of the border, but that the North has reinforced its security forces at the Joint Security Area near the border.

DPRK NYE Calls for Denuclearization, Reduction in Tension

New Year's Concert by the Mansudae Art Troupe held in Pyongyang at the People's Palace of Culture (Photo: KCNA)

The complete text for the Joint New Year’s Editorial can be found at Northeast Asia Matters.

The DPRK media has printed and broadcast the 2011 Joint New Year’s Editorial.  The editorial underscores kangsong taeguk and reiterates previous statements on denuclearization and a reduction in tensions, while at the same time declaring,” if a war breaks out on this land, it will bring nothing but a nuclear holocaust.”

Yonhap reports:

North Korea called Saturday for defusing tension with South Korea, warning of a “nuclear holocaust” should another war break out on the peninsula, as the impoverished communist state made its last annual pitch for economic revival ahead of a landmark year.

A joint New Year’s editorial by the North Korean press did not make clear allusions to the country’s ongoing hereditary succession nor did it repeat the 2010 call for ending the state of enmity with the United States even though it did renew a pledge for denuclearization.

The editorial, considered a blueprint for Pyongyang’s policy goals, came amid the highest level of animosity between the Koreas in decades after the North bombarded a South Korean island on Nov. 23, killing four people in one of the worst attacks since the 1950-53 Korean War.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has vowed retaliation while Seoul and Washington have teamed up to conduct joint military drills in a show of force to the North and a warning against provocation.

“Confrontation between north and south should be defused as early as possible,” the North said in the editorial jointly released by Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi.

“If a war breaks out on this land, it will bring nothing but a nuclear holocaust,” it said, arguing that war was averted last year because of “our persevering efforts” and calling for the creation of “an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation” this year.

North Korea typically makes calls for dialogue with the South in an effort to extract politically motivated aid, which Seoul has suspended since President Lee took office in early 2008.

The North also demanded that the South end its series of military exercises, accusing Seoul of aligning with “U.S. war hawks” and driving the situation to the brink of war.

The New Year’s message came after Lee expressed his hope earlier this week for the resumption of multilateral denuclearization-for-aid talks on the North. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson of the U.S. visited North Korea last month and won a pledge from the North to allow the return of international nuclear monitors on its soil.

The series of developments signaled a growing mood for the resumption of the stalled talks that include the two Koreas, the U.S., Russia, Japan and China. The so-called six-party negotiations have not been held since late 2008.

“The DPRK is consistent in its stand and will to achieve peace in Northeast Asia and denuclearization of the whole of the Korean peninsula,” the North’s joint editorial said, using the country’s official title, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

North Korea alarmed the world in November when it revealed through U.S. scholars that it was operating thousands of centrifuges to enrich uranium, a second track to building nuclear bombs.

The country, which has conducted two nuclear tests since 2006, claims the uranium enrichment, coupled with the construction of a light-water reactor, is for peaceful energy use. The U.S. sees the argument as a thin cover for advanced nuclear arms development.

Stressing that light industries are the “major front,” the North said standards of living for its people should be improved ahead of 2012, the year the leadership has designated as a moment in its history to rise as “a great, prosperous and powerful country.”

“Next year we will be greeting the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il-sung,” the country’s founder who passed his power to his son Kim Jong-il upon his death in 1994, the editorial said.

Kim Chong-il observes exercises of the 105 Guards' Tank Division in a KCNA photo released 1 January 2011. Among those in attendance are Chief of the KPA General Staff, VMar Yi Yong-ho, (R) and Operations Bureau chief, Gen. Kim Myong-kuk (2nd right, leaning behind KCI)

Kim Chong-il made his final public appearance when he observed training exercises of the 105 Guards’ Tank (Armored) Division, which links to the Pyongyang Defense Corps.  In 2010, his visit to the unit (reported on 5 January) was his first field inspection of the year.  It was also his first KPA unit visit in 2009.

Kim Jong Il, supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), has recently watched the training of a tank division, the official news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

He expressed great satisfaction with the soldiers who were fully prepared politically and ideologically and armed with military techniques to defend the socialist homeland, the report said.

He called for strengthening the military qualification and combat ability of the tank unit, underscoring the need to conduct intensive training under the simulated conditions of an actual battle.

The Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division, which played an important role in strengthening the tank forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was a vanguard unit both in battles and the ideological field, he said

A KCNA photo released 1 January 2011 showing exercises of the 105th Guards Tank Division. The unit was the first to invade Seoul during the Korean War.