On-site Guidance of People's Army Mortar Artillery Training
"Hits Like Eyes on the Cannon... Truly a Pleasant Day" Satisfaction
"Modernize Artillery Armament and Accelerate Preparation for Artillery Combat"
Victor Cha: "North Korea Tends to Provoke More Ahead of US Elections"
Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, "guided the artillery firing training of the mortarmen units of the People's Army corps" ahead of the Supreme People's Assembly scheduled for the 10th. Although the training date was not specified, considering the characteristic of North Korean media reporting with a one-day delay, it is likely that the training took place on the 9th. The photo, posted on the Central News Agency's website, shows the training scene, drawing attention as no one, including Chairman Kim, is wearing a mask. Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, reportedly supervised mortar artillery unit firing training, according to the North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on the 10th. Amid the deadlock in North Korea-US denuclearization talks, it is expected that North Korea's low-intensity provocations will continue.
The agency stated that "Comrade Kim Jong-un guided the mortar artillery unit firing training of the People's Army corps," adding that "the training was conducted with the purpose of understanding the performance status of light artillery and medium weapons equipped in the People's Army."
Although the exact date of the artillery firing training was not specified, it is highly likely that it took place on the 9th. North Korean media typically report on training or events that occurred the previous day.
Chairman Kim expressed satisfaction with the training. KCNA reported, "Comrade Kim Jong-un showed great satisfaction with the well-prepared training to skillfully respond to modern warfare, saying that it was the first time he had seen all the units firing artillery so well together as they did today."
Furthermore, "(Chairman Kim) said that he could not help but be amazed by the training results, which were organized unexpectedly, and that it was truly a good day today as the shells seemed to have eyes, hitting the targets precisely, repeatedly expressing joy and fulfillment."
Kim emphasized, "It is important to strengthen training to enable the People's Army to effectively use light artillery and medium weapons, including mortars, in operations and combat," adding, "The use of artillery forces in modern warfare is the most crucial factor determining the outcome of operations, combat, and even war."
The agency added, "Comrade Kim Jong-un repeatedly praised the remarkable marksmanship of the mortar companies of all corps, including the 2nd Corps and the 10th Corps, which hit all 60 shells out of 60 on target, and expressed gratitude from the observation posts to the firepower positions."
It also hinted at the continuation of ongoing military training.
Kim stated, "We must continue to raise the slogan of prioritizing artillery and strengthening artillery forces, accelerating preparations for artillery combat," and KCNA reported that he presented resolute tasks related to artillery training and modernization of artillery armaments.
Some analysts predict that North Korea may engage in high-intensity provocations to attract the attention of the United States.
Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US think tank, said during a video conference with South Korean correspondents on the 9th (local time), "North Korea tends to carry out more provocations in years when the US holds elections."
He introduced research findings showing that North Korea's missile or nuclear test provocations occurred about 15 weeks before US elections during Kim Il-sung's era, about 10 weeks before during Kim Jong-il's era, but under Kim Jong-un, they have occurred approximately 3.5 weeks prior, closer to the election date.
At the end of last year, Chairman Kim had foreshadowed "shocking actual actions" in a report to the Workers' Party plenary meeting. Experts anticipate provocations involving new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or new submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
Professor Kim Dong-yeop of the Far East Institute at Gyeongnam National University predicted, "There are movements of SLBMs near the Sinpo shipyard, and when calm and warm days come to the East Sea, I expect the Pukguksong-3 to be launched from an actual submarine rather than a barge."
Meanwhile, senior officials from the Party Central Committee accompanied Chairman Kim during this field guidance. KCNA reported that Kim Su-gil, Director of the General Political Bureau, and Pak Jong-chon, Chief of the General Staff, greeted Chairman Kim.
This training took place ahead of the 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly scheduled for the 10th in Pyongyang. The Supreme People's Assembly, equivalent to South Korea's regular National Assembly, is the highest sovereign body under North Korea's constitution, holding regular sessions around April each year to establish basic principles of national policy such as constitutional and legal amendments, appoint key state officials, and approve the budget.
Professor Kim explained, "The fact that a large number of troops were mobilized for military training just before the Supreme People's Assembly, and that Chairman Kim and the military leadership were seen guiding without wearing masks, seems to indicate an intention to dispel concerns about the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."
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