Kim Jong Un Observed and Guides AA Missile Test and Visits Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant

Kim Jong Un observes the test of anti-aircraft rockets (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his visit to the Sinhu’ng Machine Plant

DPRK state media reported on April 2 (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) observed and guided the test of a new anti-aircraft weapons and system and visited the Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant of the Ryongso’ng Machine Complex.

Jong Un first observed and commanded the test of a new anti-aircraft rocket and weapons system [guided the test firing for estimating the combat efficiency of a new-type anti-aircraft interceptor guided weapons system]  Attending the test were Ri Man Gon (Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Military Industry (machine-building) Department), Ri Pyong Chol (Senior Deputy Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Military Industry [machine-building] Department), Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Military Industry [machine-building] Department) and Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces).  At the test site, General Choe Yong Ho (Commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force) and senior DPRK defense industry officials greeted Kim Jong Un prior to the test.

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Anti-aircraft rockets were “fired to accurately hit mock enemy aerial targets” and the “test verified that feasibility [efficiency] of the new-type AA guided weapon system is perfect in the light of the latest military sci-tech requirements [the test was very fine and confirmed through the estimation that the combat efficiency of the new-type anti-aircraft interceptor guided weapons system researched and developed and manufactured by the indigenous strength and technology has completely satisfied the latest military scientific and technological requirements] ”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un “highly estimated the merits of the scientists and technicians  in the field of defense science to which our Party attaches importance” and expressed “great satisfaction over the successful test, terming the success another striking demonstration of the validity of the Party’s policy of attaching importance to science and technology of national defense and the rapidly growing defense capability of the DPRK.”

Kim Jong Un visits the Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province. Also in attendance are WPK Organization Guidance Department deputy director Jo Yong Won (left) and WPK Military (machine-building) Industry Department deputy director Hong Yong Chil (2nd right) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un later visited Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng, which is part of the Ryongso’ng Machine Complex.  Attending the visit were Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Military Industry [machine-building] Department) and Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces).  The first stop was to the revolutionary history room where Jong Un remarked that the “plant is a factory established under care of Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) in the 21st Century” and he stressed “the need to meticulously organize education through the room so as to help the workers of the plant live and struggle with the pride of working at the place associated with the leadership exploits of Kim Jong Il.”

Kim Jong Un tours the Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant which is part of the Ryongso’ng Machine Complex (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un noted that the “plant is the one of great significance in developing the country’s machine-building industry” and said he visited it “to turn it into another model plant and standard plant of the country.”  He underlined the “need to modernize its production process at the best level in order to economize manpower as much as possible, keep its machine production going at a high rate and thoroughly guarantee the quality of its products.”  He stressed the “importance to properly set the goals to be attained in the modernization drive” and urged the “plant to attain its first-stage goal by updating and putting on a CNC (computer numerical control) basis its old equipment and putting its production process on a semi-automatic basis and the second by placing its overall production processes on a complete automatic and streamlined basis.”

Kim Jong Un visits the Tonghu’ngsan Machine Plant in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Jong Un underscored the “need to provide the workers of the plant with the best civilization by giving a complete face-lift to the plant through various projects including the one for newly sprucing up its cultural hall for workers” and he noted that the “Party will take charge of the work for modernizing the plant and settle all matter.”  He called on “its officials and workers to determinedly rise up in the efforts for turning it into the country core machine plant.”  Kim Jong Un noted that the “modernization of the plant is vast but there is nothing insurmountable if its workers make efforts out of the high awareness to firmly defend their revolutionary and class position as befitting members of the heroic Chuch’e-type working class struggling the way the great leaders did.”