North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised air warfare exercises on Friday, stressing the importance of realistic preparation for combat, as reported by state media KCNA on Saturday. This comes in the aftermath of the joint annual drills conducted by South Korea and the United States earlier in the week.
Kim emphasized the necessity for soldiers to undergo training directly relevant to warfare, stating, “Only realistic training directly related to warfare can prepare soldiers as real combat fighters,” according to KCNA.
Kim Jong Un of North Korea Supervises Air Warfare Drills, Calls for Combat Preparation, Says KCNA (Credits: Market Screener)
Expressing satisfaction with North Korean troop readiness, Kim instructed for training that encompasses various terrains, weather conditions, and timings, including the most severe circumstances, as per the KCNA report.
The drills conducted by North Korea followed the joint annual exercises involving South Korea and the U.S.
The South Korea-U.S. joint drills marked the first such exercise since Pyongyang terminated a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing tensions in November.
The Freedom Shield exercises, which lasted for 10 days and concluded on Thursday, witnessed participation from an unprecedented number of member states under the U.S.-led United Nations Command. This command has been operational since the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.
