Kim Jong Un presides over an expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission. DPRK did not disclose when the meeting took place (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his inspection of an island landing drill in the West Sea

DPRK state media reported on February 23 (Monday) that an expanded meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Military Commission was held “under the guidance” of Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n).  This expanded meeting followed a February 18 expanded meeting of the WPK Political Bureau.  In contrast to the Political Bureau meeting which had the feel of a criticism session, negative evaluations of the KPA’s performance were rather muted in state media coverage (“deviations manifested in the work”).  In his “historic” concluding speech, Jong Un obliquely referred to munitions production and “clarified the methods of fighting a war with the U.S. imperialists and corresponding operational and tactical matters.”

Kim Jong Un at an expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

CMC Members and meeting participants take notes (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Attending the meeting were CMC members, senior members of the WPK Korean People’s Army [KPA] Committee, KPA service branch commanders and corps commanders.  Among those observed attending the meeting were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Major Gen. Choe Pu Il (Minister of the People’s Security), Ri Pyong Chol (Senior Deputy [1st Vice] Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), Gen. Jo Kyong Chol (Director of the Military Security Command) and VMar Kim Jong Gak (President of Kim Il Sung Military University).  The meeting began with a moment of silence for late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il).  According to KCNA, the CMC meeting “discussed important strategic issues of bringing about a radical turn in the overall work for national defense as required by the prevailing situation and developing revolution.”  The meeting also took up “an organizational matter” which most likely involved the appointment and dismissal of CMC members.

A view of the venue of the expanded CMC meeting (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

In his speech, Kim Jong Un said that “over the past three years since the demise of Kim Jong Il the service personnel of the KPA have safeguarded the WPK and the revolution with pure conscience and clear mind, regarding the loyalty to the party and leader and moral obligation as dearer than their own lives despite the graver situation at home and abroad than ever before.  The enlarged meeting is of weighty significance in clearly indicating the future orientation of building the army for carrying out the behests of Kim Jong Il and letting the People’s Army, the main force for the Military-First (So’ngun) revolution, win victories in defending socialism and all sectors for building a thriving nation this year so as to successfully greet the 70th anniversaries of the WPK and the liberation of the country as grand political festivals.”

Kim Jong Un delivers a speech to an expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un “reviewed the work of the KPA” and “set forth the ways of carrying out its work for this year.”  According to KCNA he remarked that “last year the service personnel of the KPA grew stronger in their faith and will to hold President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the eternal sun of Chuch’e and accomplish the Military-First (So’ngun) revolutionary cause under the guidance of the party and the politico-ideological might and combat capabilities of the KPA were remarkably bolstered up and the foundation for supply service was consolidated to open a prospect for satisfactorily solving the issue of service personnel’s living” and he “pointed to the deviations manifested in the work of the KPA last year and set forth a strategic line to be always held fast to by the KPA which has a responsible duty of national defense and tasks and ways for developing the revolutionary armed forces.”

Kim Jong Un addresses the CMC’s expanded meeting (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un “underlined the need to implement the line of making the KPA politically, ideologically and morally stronger as required by the developing reality in which the cause of Chuch’e-oriented army-building has reached a higher level.”  He emphasized “the need for the KPA to focus all its efforts on rounding off combat readiness this year” and said “it was necessary to simplify the machinery of the KPA and indicated the orientation and ways for reorganizing the machinery in such a way as to realize the strategic intention of the Supreme Command any time.”  Jong Un also called on “the KPA to be fully ready to react to any form of war to be ignited by the enemy, he clarified the methods of fighting a war with the U.S. imperialists and corresponding operational and tactical matters.”  According to KCNA, he also said that “our revolution advances, keeping pace with the KPA, and the pace of the KPA precisely means the speed of the advance of our revolution.  The KPA should dash ahead like the wind in the van to be followed by the whole country in its speed and thus bring earlier a rosy future of the great Paektusan nation. “

Kim Jong Un tours the P’yo’ngch’o’n Revolutionary Site in central Pyongyang (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a photo-op with KPA service members and officers that participated in the 4th Conference of KPA Artillery Personnel

DPRK state media reported on December 10 (Wednesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the recently refurbished P’yo’ngch’o’n Revolutionary Site in central Pyongyang.  Also in attendance were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Col. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [military industries] Department) and Lt. Gen. Jang Chang Ha (deputy director of the KPA General Political Department).

Overview of the P’yo’ngch’o’n Revolutionary Site in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA).

The P’yo’nch’o’n Revolutionary Site is a former munitions factory, which was visited on several occasions by DPRK founder and late president Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng), his wife Kim Jong Suk (Kim Cho’ng-suk) and a young KJI.  It routinely appears in official documentaries about revolutionary history and on the DPRK’s military industrial complex.  After arriving at the site, Jong Un noted that “the President came to the P’yo’ngch’o’n plain in October 1945, seventy years ago to choose the site for a munitions factory.”  Jong Un looked at a commemorative mosaic of his father, grandfather and grandmother, other markers of the “Road of Revolution,” former areas of the P’yo’ngch’o’n munitions factory and the museum.

Kim Jong Un tours the museum at Phyongchon Revolutionary Site in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said that “every part of the site has been reintegrated in the principle of historicism and its education compound and greening are neat and admirable.  The education in the So’ngun (military-first) idea occupies an important party in the Party’s ideological work.  The P’yo’ngch’o’n Revolutionary Site has a very important role in conveying the immortal So’ngun revolutionary exploits performed by the peerlessly great persons of Mt. Paektu and encouraging the servicepersons and civilians to remain loyal to the Party’s So’ngun (military-first) leadership.”  Jong Un “advanced such tasks for operating the site [such] as matter of displaying the photo of the President test-firing a submachine gun at the shooting range, intensifying the work to discover historic data, meticulously organizing the visits to the site, steadily raising the ability of its lecturers and conducting a brisk itinerant lecture and bettering the environment of the site.”

Jong Un said that the “P’yo’ngch’o’n Revolutionary Site is just a native place of the So’ngun arms.  Every gun, produced thanks to the tireless efforts of the President, has formed a forest of arms defending the Party and revolution, the country and its people and the historic gun report made by him at the site turned the DPRK into a powerful nuclear weapons state ready to detonate self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb to reliably defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation.  If we struggle in the same spirit with which the workers produced submachine guns by their own efforts just after the liberation of the country when everything was in need we can further build up our country into a powerful one no enemy dare to provoke.  [We should] steadily put big efforts on the development of country’s munitions industry associated with devoted efforts of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.”

Kim Jong Un visits the January 18 General Machinery Plant in South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: KCNA).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his visit to Ku’msusan to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s demise

DPRK state media reported on December 20 (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the January 18 General Machinery Plant, which has recently undergone an upgrade.  Also attending the visit were O Su Yong (Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [military industries] Department), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department) and Pak T’ae Song (Chief Secretary of the South P’yo’ngan WPK Committee).  The upgrading of the January 18 plant was initiated by Jong Un during 2014 as part of his policy of developing and producing more effective short-range missiles with the January 18 General Machinery Plant functioning as one of the leading industrial plants involved in that policy.

Kim Jong Un enjoyed “a panoramic view of the plant” and he joked that it had “been face-lifted so freshly that one can hardly find traces of its past.  New visitors to the plant will take it for a rest home.”  Jong Un toured the factory’s revolutionary history museum and, according to KCNA, said that “they were well built to display the historic data and relics” and “stressed the need to effectively conduct among the employees of the plant the education in the exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) and the Party for it.”

Kim Jong Un tours the January 18 General Machinery Plant (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

He toured the plant and was briefed about its upgrading and renovation.  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un remarked that the “plant has been turned in keeping with the trend of the development of industry in the 21st century as it possessed enough modern equipment and established a flexible manufacturing system, made up of NC (numerical control) machine tools, robots, unmanned material carrier, automatic storehouse, etc., with domestic design, technology and efforts” and said that “the plant has been put on a scientific, IT, automated and unmanned basis at a high level, making it possible to remarkably raise the production with less manpower and further improve the quality of products.”  Jong Un “urged the plant to continue directing big efforts to the work for overfulfilling the production plan on all indices by keeping the production going at a high rate, steadily developing the employees’ technical knowledge and skills, improving the supply service, taking good care of equipment and keeping the inside and outside of the plant neat and tidy.”

Commemorative photo of Kim Jong Un with employees and managers of January 18 General Machinery Plant (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said that the January 18 General Machinery Plant was “successfully remodeled to meet the needs of the age of knowledge-based economy and a highly-civilized socialist nation at the time when exemplary and standard units for modernization appear at industrial establishments, rural community and other fields of the country.  This provided a springboard for further developing the nation’s machine-building industry, a standard for its modernization.”  He also said that “to update the industrial establishments is not a mere economic and technical work but an important work to translate into reality the noble intention of the great leaders and thoroughly implement the Party’s policy” and he  “called for making the flame of modernization drive kindled at the plant rage furiously throughout all sectors and units.”  At the end of his visit, Kim Jong Un posed for a commemorative photo with employees, managers and functionaries of the plant.

Kim Jong Un touches the embalmed body of WPK Secretary Kim Yang Gon, whilst attending a viewing and wake in Pyongyang on December 30, 2015. Also seen in attendance (left) are Kim Ki Nam and VMar Hwang Pyong So (Photo: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a conference of KPA fisheries’ employees and activists

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended the viewing and wake for Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary and Director of the United Front Department Kim Yang Gon (Kim Yang-ko’n) at the Sojang Club in central Pyongyang on December 30 (Wednesday).  Also attending the viewing with him were members of the WPK Secretariat who are also members of the state funeral committee: VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Kim Ki Nam (WPK Secretary for and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [information and publicity]), Choe T’ae Bok (WPK Secretary for Science and Education), Kwak Pom Gi (WPK Secretary for and Director of Planning and Finance), O Su Yong (WPK Secretary of Light Industry), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (WPK Secretary for and Director of Cadres’ Affairs) and Jo Yon Jun (Senior Deputy [1st vice] Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department).  Earlier on Wednesday, Jong Un has a floral basket sent to Kim Yang Gon’s casket bier.

The remains of WPK Secretary for South Korean Affair Kim Yang Gon, attended by a KPA honor guard. Seen at the foot of his casket are his state titles, awards and watches. (Photo: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un (center) and members of the WPK Secretariat bow in front of a casket containing Kim Yang Gon’s body at a funeral parlor at Sojang Club in Pyongyang on December 30, 2015 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un and his entourage bowed in front of the casket containing Kim Yang Gon’s body.  According to KCNA, he “looked round the bier in bitter grief over the loss of the dear revolutionary comrade who devoted all his wisdom and energies till the last moments of his life to the struggle for thoroughly carrying out the last instructions of the great leaders for national reunification true to the unitary leadership of the party with unshakable revolutionary faith as required by the crucial historic period for accomplishing the Chuch’e-oriented revolutionary cause.”  Seeing Kim Yang Gon’s body, Jong Un “looked bitterly sorrowful when seeing the face of the beloved comrade-in-arms.”  Jong Un remarked that Kim’s death “was a great loss to the WPK and the revolution.  Kim Yang Gon was his faithful helper and close comrade-in-arms whom nobody can replace.  It seemed Kim Yang Gon would have risen up, his eyes open, if he had called Kim Yang Gon right now.”

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un “could hardly repress his bitter grief” whilst Jong Un placed “his hands…on the cold body of the revolutionary comrade” and he noted “he would not have felt so painful if he had seen Kim Yang gon pass away after warmly taking his hand even once as he had gone to his sorrow even without a word, leaving a lot of work to be done together unfulfilled.”  Kim Jong Un said that “our party and country will always remember the brilliant life of Kim Yang Gon who remained boundlessly loyal to the party and the revolution with steadfast faith in the justice of his cause.”

After paying his respects at Kim Yang Gon’s casket, Jong Un greeted members of Kim’s family and offered his condolences.

Kim Yong Nam (3rd L), SPA Presidium President and other members of the SPA Presidium pay their respects to Kim Yang Gon at the Sojang Club in Pyongyang on December 30, 2015 (Photo: KCNA).

Earlier in the day, various senior DPRK officials, foreign ambassadors stationed in the DPRK and Korean nationals paid their respects and offered their condolences at the funeral parlor of Kim Yang Gon.

A KPA honor guard stand in attendance at the funeral parlor of WPK Secretary Kim Yang Gon in Pyongyang on December 30, 2015. Also in attendance are members of Kim’s family (left) (Photo: KCNA).

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

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at the KPA Military Band’s 70th Anniversary concert

DPRK state media reported on February 27 (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) observed and commanded the testing of anti-tank weapons.  Attending the weapons test with him were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), General Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces who holds the portfolio for munitions and defense industry), Lt. General Jo Nam Jin (head of the KPA Organization Department and deputy director of the KPA General Political Department), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department), Kim Chang Gwang (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department) and Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department and senior official of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences [SANS] who is a missile expert).

Kim Jong Un observes the test of an anti-tank weapons system. Noted is the reappearance of KPA General Political Department Director VMar Hwang Pyong So, who had not attended Kim Jong Un’s last three military events (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

After the test firing of what KCNA described as a “laser-guided rocket,” Jong Un remarked, “it was a wonderful firing.  The portable anti-tank laser-guided rocket produced by the munitions industry workers of the DPRK has the longest firing-range in the world.  Its rate of hits is as accurate as sniper’s rifle firing and its armor penetrating capability and destructive power are marvelous.”  Jong Un “noted with great satisfaction that even the special armored tanks and cars of the enemies which boast their high maneuverability and striking power are no more than boiled pumpkin before the anti-tank guided weapon of the DPRK.  The anti-tank rocket comprehensively reflects the military strategic idea of the WPK on guerrilla warfare.”

Kim Jong Un observes the test of anti-tank weapons (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

(Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Stills aired on Korean Central Television [KCTV] showing what DPRK state media described as a portable laser guided anti-tank weapon (Photos: KCTV/KCNA/NK Leadership Watch screen grab).

Kim Jong Un watches an anti-tank weapons test. Also seen in attendance is Chief of the KPA General Staff Gen. Ri Myong Su [a] and Deputy Director of the WPK Military (machine-building) Industry Department Hyon Yong Chil [b] (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Stills from Korean Central Television News showing the test of anti-tank weapons (Photos: KCNA/KCTV/NK Leadership Watch screen grab).

Kim Jong Un observes the test of what DPRK state media described as “laser guided anti-tank rockets” (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

Kim Jong Un observes testing of anti-tank weapons (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

(Photos: KCTV/KCNA/NK Leadership Watch screen grab).

On behalf of the WPK Central Military Commission, Jong Un “thanked..the relevant scientists, technicians and munitions factory for developing the weapon system” and called “on the sector of the national defense scientific research and all the workers of the munitions industry to channel their efforts into developing Chuch’e-based weapons suited to the topography of the country and physical conditions of the soldiers.”  He “advanced militant tasks to be carried out by the munitions industry during the 70-day campaign and this year.”

Kim Jong Un discusses a weapons test with senior WPK and KPA officials (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Kim Jong Un speaks during a visit to Thaesong Machine Factory in Taean-kuyo’k, Namp’o (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his inspection of an anti-tank weapons test

DPRK state media reported on March 2 (Wednesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited Thaesong Machine Factory in Taean-kuyo’k, Namp’o.  In attendance were Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department) and Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [military] Industry Department).  T’aeso’ng Machine Factory is one of the DPRK’s leading producers of ballistic missiles and subsystems [PDF link] and one of the oldest munitions production sites in the country.  Kim Jong Un last visited the T’aeso’ng Machine Factory with his father, Kim Jong Il, on November 2, 2011.

A commemorative photograph of late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un at T’aeso’ng Machine Factory with factory managers, senior Korean People’s Army [KPA] and WPK officials in November 2011 (Photo: NK Leadership Watch file photo/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un tours T’aeso’ng Machine Factory and views machinery and products of the factory (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

He toured workshops and other areas of the factory and learned about its production, operations and its products.  He said that “T’aeso’ng Machine Factory, the eldest, pioneer and core factory in the machine-building industry of the country has a very important role to play in building a thriving nation” and stressed “the need to modernize it as required by the age of knowledge-based economy.  The factory’s production and technology management process should be turned into one of development and creative style, not sample-imitation style.”  He added that his “visit is aimed to lay a new springboard for the development of the country’s machine-building industry through modernization of the factory.  It is the intention of the Party Central Committee to turn the T’aeso’ng Machine Factory into a world-level ultra-modern machine producer.  The work for modernizing the factory should be dealt as an important and strategic affair related to the future of the development of the country’s machine-building industry.”

Kim Jong Un on the premises of T’aeso’ng Machine Factory, its revolutionary history exhibitions and tours the factory (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un issued instructions about renovating and modernizing the factory.  According to KCNA he noted that he “felt very high degree of revolutionary zeal and spirit of the workers at the factory struggling with their firm resolution to proudly attend the Seventh Congress of the WPK with a record-book on campaign of loyalty.  There will be no fortress unconquerable for us when we go with those workers.”  He “expressed expectation and belief that the officials and workers of the factory would completely renew the factory to meet the demand of the age of knowledge-based economy and the needs of a high civilized socialist nation and bring about a great upsurge in the production of modern machines urgently needed for various economic field and thus creditably play the role of vanguard and shock brigade in the struggle for the development of the country’s economy.”

State Planning Commission Chairman and DPRK Vice Premier Ro Tu Chol ties stakes to a tree at Moran Hill in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

DPRK state media reported that National Tree Planting Day was observed by DPRK central leadership, workers’ and social organizations and the DPRK Government on March 2 (Wednesday).  This marked the 70th anniversary of Tree Planting Day, which according to DPRK’s official history, goes back to March 2, 1946 when late DPRK founder and president Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) along with his wife Kim Jong Suk (Kim Cho’ng-suk) and Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) planted a tree on Moran Hill in Pyongyang and called for a national reforestation effort on the country’s mountains.  This year, state media and ideological indoctrination linked Tree Planting Day with the 70-day Speed Battle and other labor efforts ahead of the 7th Party Congress which convenes this May.

Members of the Kim Il Sung Youth League plant trees and shrubberies at the Mangyo’ngdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 as part of National Tree Planting Day. Attending the tree planting event from the DPRK central leadership were SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, WPK Secretary Kim Ki Nam, Senior Deputy Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department Jo Yon Jun and KISYL Central Committee Chairman Jon Yong Nam (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Workers’ Party of Korea Secretary and Director of the WPK Propaganda and Agitation Department Kim Ki Nam (a) shovel dirt over a tree planting at Mangyo’ngdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (a) shovels dirt over a tree planting at Moran Hill in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

WPK Secretary for Light Industry O Su Yong (a) shovels dirt over a tree at Moran Hill in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

At meetings held at a variety of locales in Pyongyang and in provincial cities, participants pledged “to launch a vigorous forest restoration campaign truth to the plan of supreme leader Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) for land development.”  According to KCNA, meeting reporters and speakers said that “President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il devoted all their lives to turning the mountains of the country in the thickly wooded people’s paradise and flower gardens…their patriotic devotion and exploits would remain shining forever.”  The speakers at the meetings called for “bringing about an epochal turn in the forest restoration campaign this year when the Seventh Congress of the WPK is to be held by making patriotic dedication to the work for handing down the assets of lasting value to the generations to come under the leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un.”

Faculty and students plant trees and shrubberies on the campus of Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Members of the Korean Democratic Women’s Union attend a meeting on Tree Planting Day at the Central Tree Nursery in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016. In attendance were Choe T’ae Bok (WPK Secretary for Science and Education and SPA Chairman), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (WPK Secretary and Director of Cadres’ Affairs), Kim Yong Dae (Chairman of the Korea Social Democratic Party Central Committee) and Kim Jong Sun (Chairwoman of the Korean Democratic Women’s Union Central Committee (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

WPK Secretary and SPA Chairman Choe T’ae Bok plants a tree at the Central Tree Nursery in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

A Tree Planting Day meeting held in front of Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary Museum in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

WPK Secretary and Director of Planning and Finance Kwak Pom Gi participates in planting a tree at Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary Museum in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop helps stabilize a tree being planted on the premises of the Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary Museum in Pyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

WPK Secretary and Director of the United Front Department, Gen. Kim Yong Chol shovels dirt during a tree planting in Mangyo’ngdae in Pyyongyang on March 2, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

After the reports and speeches, senior party and government officials, provincial party and government officials, national and provincial functionaries of workers’ and social organizations and heads of local Ministry of People’s Security offices planted trees and shrubberies with students and other DPRK citizens.  Meanwhile, Korean People’s Army [KPA] service members and officers planted 7.1 million trees according to a KCNA news item released on March 3 (Thursday) including maple and fruit and trees.

Kim Jong Un observes the test of multiple-launch rockets systems [MLRS] (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended the test firing of multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS] which will be deployed to the DPRK’s reserve military training units (Worker-Peasant Red Guard, Young Red Guards, etc.).  Also in attendance were Choe Ryong Hae (Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary for Workers’ and Social Organizations), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department), Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department) and Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces with a portfolio in the munitions and logistics industry).

Ri Chun Hui reads a short preamble to the state media report about Kim Jong Un’s command and observation of the MLRS tests (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Kim Jong Un and senior WPK and KPA munitions industry officials observe the test firing of a multiple launch rocket system (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

The KCNA item on Jong Un’s inspection of the MLRS had a preamble that said that “the US imperialists and their followers’ flagrant moves for political and economic pressure and military aggression on the DPRK have gone to a grave phase that can no longer be overlooked. They committed a ferocious hostility of illegalizing the DPRK’s independent rights as a sovereign state by adopting an unprecedented and gangster-like new ‘resolution of sanctions’ over its bolstering of its self-defensive deterrent and legitimate launch of the earth observation satellite Kwamgmyo’ngso’ng-4.  All the people in the DPRK are now waiting for an order of combat to annihilate the enemy with their surging wrath at the US imperialists and south Korea’s Park Geun Hye (Pak Ku’n-hye) group of traitors.”

Tests of what appear to be a newer 300 mm MLRS. According to DPRK state media, the MLRS will be deployed to the contry’s reserve military training units (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un points out a projectile fired from an MLRS during test firing. Also in attendance are WPK Machine-Building Industry (Military Industry) Department Deputy Director Hong Yong Chil [a] and WPK Machine-Building Industry (Military Industry) Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik [b] (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Kim Jong Un observed and guided the test firing of MLRS “of new type to be deployed in the reserve artillery units of the Korean People’s Army [KPA].”  Jong Un was briefed about the testing firing along with “tactical and technological specification of controlled rocket ordnance.”    The test firing “in various ways with fragmentation mine shell, underground penetration shell and scattering shell showed that the ordnance rocket warhead, made in combination with high-energy material, has amazing destructivity and killing power.”  Jong Un was “very satisfied to see controlled ordnance rockets hitting accurately and destroying to pieces the strongly-built simulates enemy personnel, tank, artillery and vehicle shelters.”

Kim Jong Un commands and observes the MLRS test firing (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

According to KCNA he said “the development of Chuch’e weapons representing the era of the dignified Workers’ Party is a proud result from the undying feats of President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) who had dedicated their mental and physical effort to the strengthening of the Chuch’e-based defense capability, and from the Party’s policy of attaching importance to the defense science and technology.  At the same time, it eloquently shows the tremendous potentials of the DPRK’s self-supporting defense industry.  The serial production of Korean-style large-caliber multiple launch rocket system of new type helps further strengthen the striking power of the Korean People’s Army qualitatively.”

Tests of a new 300 mm multiple launch rocket system which will be deployed to Young Red Guard, Worker-Peasant Red Guard and other reserve military training units in the DPRK (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un remarked that “the situation has reached a very dangerous phase that can no longer be neglected as the enemies are intent on such last-ditch attempts as ‘beheading operation’ and ‘collapse of social system’ while working hard to violate the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and its right to existence.”  He added that “now is the time for us to convert our mode of military counteraction toward the enemies into a preemptive attack one in very aspect.  It is a very foolish act for Park Geun Hye to cry for ‘preemptive attack’ while recklessly beefing up the armed forces in league with the US scoundrels, but her hysteria will precipitate only her ruin in the long run.”

Kim Jong Un at the test firing of MLRS. Also in attendance are Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyong [a], WPK Secretary for Workers’ and Social Organizations Choe Ryong Hae [b] and WPK Machine-Building Industry (military industry) Deputy Director and missile expert Kim Jong Sik (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un inspects a new MLRS system (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un inspects a new model MLRS. Noted in the photo are members of Jong Un’s close security escort (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Jong Un “expressed belief that the officials, scientists and technicians engaged in the defense science [sector] would steadily develop new-type ultra-modern strike arms and equipment, make a fresh leaping progress in the strengthening of military capability this year greeting the Seventh Congress of the WPK and thus consolidate the country’s defense capability as firm as a rock.”

DPRK Foreign Ministry and DPRK government office buildings in central Pyongyang (Photo: NK Leadership Watch).

The DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement through state media on March 3 (Thursday) in response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270 (2016) adopted on March 2.  According to KCNA the Foreign Ministry said:

The U.S. fabricated another “resolution on sanctions” by abusing the UNSC, while finding fault with the DPRK’s H-bomb test and satellite launch.

The “resolution” unprecedented in its viciousness and illegality is a brigandish product which can never be justified.

If the access to nuclear weapons is to be called into question, the U.S., the first country in the world which had access to nuclear weapons and the only user of them, should be done so and if any fault is to be found with the DPRK’s access to nuclear weapons, it is imperative to pull up the U.S. over the hostile policy and nuclear threat toward the DPRK for which it is responsible.

The DPRK’s access to nuclear weapons is an unavoidable option for self-defense made by it as the U.S., the world biggest nuclear weapons state and the only user of the nuclear weapons, designated the dignified DPRK as an “axis of evil” and target of a preemptive nuclear strike and has persistently escalated the hostile moves and nuclear threats to the DPRK by introducing various kinds of lethal hardware for a nuclear war.
The DPRK’s H-bomb test and satellite launch are being termed a breach of the previous “resolutions” of the UNSC but, in essence, those “resolutions” are a product of high-handedness practiced beyond the mandate of the UNSC.

If the UNSC has the mandate to ban an individual country from conducting a nuclear test, what does the NPT exist for and what is the nuclear test ban treaty necessary for?

As for the satellite launch, it is the legitimate right of a sovereign state.

The DPRK shaped the 5-year program for national aerospace development through the legitimate exercise of the independent right recognized by international law and according to it successfully launched earth observation satellite Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 which is now under normal operation.

Where in the UN Charter is the mandate investing the UNSC with the right to deprive an individual UN member nation of the right to use space for peaceful purposes, a right specified in international law, stipulated?

If the DPRK’s satellite launch is to be found fault with, it is necessary to call into question all countries that launched satellites including the U.S.

The U.S., preoccupied with the hostility toward the DPRK, went so crude as not to hesitate to devise “luxury goods” as embargo items in a bid to prohibit the DPRK from importing even sports apparatuses such as ski resort facilities which have nothing to do with the development of weaponry.

Underlying it is a vicious hostile purpose and nature against human rights aimed to arrest happy laughs of people from being heard from such cultural recreation grounds as the Masikryo’ng Ski Resort in the DPRK and to prevent its people from enjoying highly civilized socialist life, the promise the Workers’ Party of Korea made to them, and, furthermore, to bring down the social system of the DPRK.

The DPRK bitterly denounces and totally rejects all “resolutions” against it including the recent “resolution”, which are being misused for sinister political purpose of a big power in wanton violation of the independent right, right to development and right to existence of the sovereign state, as the criminal documents devoid of impartiality, legitimacy and morality.

Many member nations of the United Nations, small countries, in particular, are getting increasingly vocal in their call for the democratic reform of the UN Security Council the most undemocratic and unfair old structure and nature of which are still left intact within the UN machinery. And they are expressing their protest by ignoring unreasonable resolutions of the UNSC.

The DPRK, a country that covered the path of self-reliance and self-development in face of the U.S. sanctions and blockade, recently took the path it should have taken, while being fully aware that the U.S. would slap sanctions again.

The DPRK’s self-development-first principle is the strength of the courageous people who emerged as a H-bomb state and satellite launching state by dint of its indigenous wisdom and technology with firm belief in their own efforts despite the U.S. ceaseless hostile policy and sanctions that lasted for more than seven decades.

It is a serious miscalculation to think that sanctions would work on the DPRK.

The DPRK’s bolstering up of the nuclear deterrent is an exercise of the just right to self-defense which should be done constantly as long as the U.S. persists in its hostile policy, and the DPRK’s satellite launch is the work for space development pursuant to the legitimate right of a sovereign state which should be done ceaselessly forever irrelevant to the U.S. hostile policy whose termination is still up in the air.

The world will soon witness more steps and actions to be taken by the DPRK on its path of successfully implementing the line of simultaneously developing the two fronts.

The U.S. will be wholly responsible for the total failure of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as it refused to the last the abandonment of its hostile policy toward the DPRK.

DPRK Foreign Ministry building and DPRK Cabinet building in Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang (Photo: Google image).

On March 4 (Friday), the DPRK Government issued another statement to clarify the one issued by the Foreign Ministry the previous day and as a follow-up to remarks made by Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) during his inspection of multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS]:

Being taken aback by the H-bomb test of the DPRK and its successful launch of earth satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, the U.S. and other big powers and their followers finally fabricated “resolution No. 2270 calling for harsh sanctions” against the DPRK by abusing the name of the UN Security Council at the dawn on Thursday.

No sooner had the “resolution” been adopted than Obama published “a welcoming message” and let State Secretary Kerry make public “a statement supporting” it. Riff-raffs blindly echoed their statements one after another.

Trumpeting about the efficacy of the “resolution”, the U.S. published “its own sanctions” in which leading officials of the army and government of the DPRK are put on the list of “special sanctions.”

Following suit, Japan made public Abe’s “commentary” and Foreign Minister Kishida’s “statement” in support of the “resolution”.

Even the Park Geun Hye (Pak Ku’n-hye) group of south Korea issued a “statement” at midnight, describing the “sanctions” as the “harshest and comprehensive sanctions” and “strong message”.

Terror-stricken by the H-bomb blast and successful launch of Kwangmyongsong-4 that shook the world at the outset of this year, the U.S. and other big powers and their followers held a confab for 57 days, cooking up the “resolution on sanctions.” It was, therefore, nothing surprising and new as it was predicted.

What matters is that the “resolution” is the most undisguised and the most hideous international crime aimed to isolate and stifle the independent and righteous sovereign state under the unjustified pretexts.

As already clarified, the H-bomb test of the DPRK was a step for bolstering up the nuclear deterrence to safeguard the sovereignty and the right to existence of the nation from the U.S. hostile policy to invade the country and its increasing nuclear threats. The DPRK’s satellite launch was the exercise of the universally recognized legitimate right of a sovereign state.

The government of the DPRK clarifies its stand before the world as follows as regards the fact that the U.S. and other big powers and their followers fabricated in conspiracy the UNSC “resolution on sanctions”, gravely threatening the sovereignty of the DPRK and blatantly challenging its just cause:

Firstly, the DPRK brands the UNSC’s vicious “resolution on sanctions” as the most outrageous provocation against the DPRK, the dignified independent and sovereign state, and categorically rejects it.

The “resolution” is a criminal document fabricated by the UNSC tasked to preserve global peace and security in wanton violation of the international justice and impartiality, dancing to the tune of the U.S. and other big powers and their followers after reneging on its mission and duty.

The DPRK has never recognized any UN “resolution on sanctions” against it.

Secondly, the DPRK will take resolute counter-measures as the U.S. and other big powers and their followers have become undisguised in their moves to trample down the DPRK’s sovereignty and right to existence.

The DPRK’s counter-measures will involve all various means and methods including strong and merciless physical counter-actions.
The DPRK will not remain a passive onlooker to the infringement upon its sovereignty and right to existence.

If an incident not desired by anyone happens in the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity, the U.S. and other big powers and their followers and those who sponsored the UN “resolution on sanctions” will be held wholly accountable for the ensuing consequences.

Thirdly, the DPRK will launch a more dynamic worldwide struggle to put a definite end to the unfair and unequal international political order with the recent hideous international crime committed by the UNSC as a momentum.

The DPRK can no longer take a fence-sitting attitude towards the trend of the world where justice and impartiality are violated and double standards and injustice are rampant.

It is the DPRK’s stand not to allow the reality in which the legality and illegality are deliberately confused and justice and truth ruthlessly trampled down by the yardstick of the U.S. and other big powers.

The DPRK will as ever firmly hold the banner of the line of developing the two fronts and further bolster up the self-defensive nuclear deterrent and dynamically advance along the road already chosen towards the eminence of satellite power no matter what others may say.

The world will clearly see how the DPRK, reacting against the UN “resolution on sanctions” with a thousand-fold counter-measures, puts an end to the crime-woven history of the UN dominated by the U.S. and other big powers and the dolts toeing their lines and establishes international justice and impartiality.

Minister of People’s Security Choe Pu Il (background, L) and a delegation of Ministry of People’s Security meet with Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General-Secretary Bounnhang Vorachith in Vientiane on March 4, 2016 (Photo: KPL).

Minister of People’s Security, General Choe Pu Il, and a delegation of the Ministry of People’s Security met with Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Sylavong and officials of the Lao Ministry of Public Security on March 4 (Friday).  According to KCNA, the two sides “exchanged views on the issue of boosting cooperation between the security organs of the two countries and issues of mutual concern.”  The DPRK Ministry of People’s Security and Lao Ministry of Public Security signed a cooperation agreement.  The Lao Ministry of Public Security later hosted a reception for General Choe and the DPRK MPS delegation.

Minister of People’s Security Choe Pu Il speaks with Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General-Secretary Bounnhang Vorachith at the LPRP Central Committee Building in Vientiane on March 4, 2016 (Photo: KPL).

Also on March 4, Choe Pu Il and the MPS delegation visited with Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General-Secretary Bounnhang Vorachith.  According to KCNA, Vorachith said that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) is “invariably carrying forward the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries forged by the preceding leader of the two countries” and that the Lao people “are rejoiced over the successes made by the Korean people in bolstering the national power and developing socio-economy.”  Vorachith “extended full support to the just cause of the Korean people on behalf of the Lao party and state and hoped that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would develop forever” and he wished Kim Jong Un “good health and great success in the work to lead the DPRK to socialism.”

Kim Jong Un tours a facility and meets with senior Workers’ Party of Korea and Korean People’s Army personnel involved in the development and production of nuclear weapons (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his inspection of the test of a multiple-launch rocket system

DPRK state media reported on March 9 (Wednesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) met with scientists, technicians and other personnel involved in the country’s nuclear weapons program and “guided the work for boosting the nuclear arsenal.”  Also attending the meeting were General Kim Rak Gyom (Commander of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Strategic Force), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department), Kim Yo Jong (deputy director of the WPK Propaganda and Agitation Department and Jong Un’s younger sister) and Hong Su’ng Mu (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department and head of the Nuclear Bureau).

Kim Jong Un tours a facility near Pyongyang and meets with officials and personnel involved in the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program. Also seen in attendance are: Deputy Director of the WPK Machine-Building Industry (Military Industry) Department Hong Yong Chil (a) and head of the Nuclear Bureau (and former Yo’ngbyo’n manager) Hong Sung Mu (B) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un was briefed about the “signal successes made by the nuclear scientists and technicians in the field of national defense science in the work for increasing the nuclear arsenal true to the party’s line of founding the Chuch’e-oriented nuclear force” and “research conducted to tip various type tactical and strategic ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.”  He “acquainted himself with the specifications and mechanism of the miniaturized powerful nuclear warheads with a Korean-style structure of mixed charge.”

Kim Jong Un talks with senior party and military personnel involved in the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program. Also in attendance are WPK Machine-Building Industry (Military Industry) Deputy Director and head of the MBID Nuclear Bureau Hong Su’ng-mu (a) and KPA Strategic Force Commander General Kim Rak Gyom (b) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un meets with senior nuclear weapons personnel (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

According to KCNA, Jong Un praised “the nuclear scientists and technicians, trustworthy ‘nuclear combatants,’ of the party for having made a signal success in the national defense scientific researches to significantly bolster up the nation’s defense capability and self-defensive deterrent true to the party’s line of simultaneously developing the two fronts.”  He noted that it “is very gratifying to see the nuclear warheads with the structure of mixed charge adequate for prompt thermo-nuclear reaction.  The nuclear warheads have been standardized to be fit for ballistic missiles by miniaturizing them…this can be called [a] true nuclear deterrent…Koreans can do anything if they have a will.”

Kim Jong Un meets with senior Workers’ Party of Korea officials involved in the development and production of nuclear weapons (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

Kim Jong Un said that “being a proud nuclear weapons state at present, we have a firm guarantee for making a breakthrough in the drive for economic construction and improving the people’s standard of living on the basis of the powerful nuclear deterrent.  The WPK’s line of simultaneously developing the two fronts is not a temporary counter-action for coping with the rapidly changing situation, but a strategic line to be permanently held fast to as long as the imperialists’ nuclear threat and arbitrary practices persist.”  Jong Un call “on the nuclear scientists, the frontline combatants responsible for the country’s nuclear deterrent to creditably perform their honorable mission and duty on behalf of the party, the country and the revolution on the first battle line for decisively foiling with a nuclear treasured sows the enemies’ daily escalating reckless moves to stifle the DPRK and glorifying the country as the matchless nuclear power which no force on earth dares to provoke.”

Kim Jong Un tours a facility near Pyongyang and meets with senior functionaries, researchers and other personnel involved in the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

He noted that “our nuclear force’s main mission to deter a nuclear war…the strong our nuclear capability gets, the more powerful our deterrent to aggression and nuclear war grows and it is the most just and reliable way of preventing the country from a nuclear war disaster to firmly bolster up the nuclear force in both quality and quantity.  The right to make a preemptive nuclear strike is by no means a monopoly of the US…if the US imperialists infringe upon the DPRK’s sovereignty and right to existence with nuclear weapons, the latter will never hesitate to make a preemptive strike at them.”  Jong Un “expressed great expectation and belief that scientists and technicians in the field of researches into nuclear weapons would develop and produce more Korean-style various type nuclear weapons of Chuch’e to completely contain the enemies with nuclear force and thus provide a firmer guarantee for the eternal future of Kim Il Sung’s (Kim Il-so’ng) nation and Kim Jong Il’s (Kim Cho’ng-il) Korea.”

Kim Jong Un is briefed by Hong Su’ng-mu during a meeting with nuclear weapons personnel. The event most likely took place at the T’aeso’ng (Tae-sung) Machine Factory (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Image of a mockup of the Nodong missile at T’aeso’ng Machine Factory. The image was taken during a 2008 visit by a military delegation from Myanmar.

On March 7, Kim Jong Un visited a facility where he was briefed about the DPRK’s nuclear weapons the missiles which would serve as their delivery system.  Based on photos of Jong Un’s visit, it appears that this event took place at the factory showroom at T’aeso’ng Machine Factory located between Pyongyang Namp’o.  The T’aeso’ng [Thaesong] Machine Factory is a large complex and a major (and one of the oldest) manufacturer of the DPRK’s ballistic missiles, generally involved in the assembling the finished product with components produced at other factories in the country.  Much of the manufacturing activity occurs in underground facilities [UGFs] located around the complex.

Images disseminated by state media of Jong Un’s visit and briefing with the nuclear weapons personnel d reveal the same interior design and layout as a photo of the T’aeso’ng Machine Factory’s showroom from a 2008 visit by a Myanmar (Burma) military delegation.  The T’aeso’ng factory showroom has undergone some renovations since it was last observed over seven years ago.  There are new ideological slogan posters (including Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il quotations) and decorations along the walls.  Fluorescent lights that run along the walls have been removed and overhead lighting was added.  Nevertheless the same structure and layout remains.  Yellow and green beams hang from the ceiling and run the length of the room; these are likely for cranes with which to move the heavy equipment  There is a corrugated metal roof and ceiling, along with white tiled walls (which might be moveable) and a glazed concrete floor.

While imagery of the interior of the T’aeso’ng Machine Factory’s showroom is highly restricted through open source methods, there are other reasons why this Jong Un visit occurred there.  There are only three other facilities within the DPRK (two in the suburbs of Pyongyang and one in Chagang Province) in which it would be appropriate for a Suryo’ng to inspect missiles and mockups thereof, however T’aeso’ng is the only one large enough to be able to accommodate the number of things that were on display during Jong Un’s visit with the nuclear weapons personnel.  There are also logistical and security reasons why this event occurred at T’aeso’ng, among them being it the most convenient locale to which they could bus and chauffeur the dozen or so nuclear weapons officials and researchers who attended Kim Jong Un’s visit.  Finally, T’aeso’ng is involved in the final assembly of much of the DPRK’s ballistic missile inventory; note that during his interaction with the country’s nuclear weapons researchers and managers Kim Jong Un referred both to tactical nuclear weapons (which would include short-range missiles, artillery shells, depth charges) and long-range ballistic missiles, some of which are T’aso’ng’s finished products.

T’aeso’ng Machine Factory (Tae-sung Machine Factory; Thaesong Machine Factory) between Pyongyang and Namp’o (Photo: Google image).

Kim Jong Un visited the T’aeso’ng factory one week ago. For external purposes he was there to order a modernization of the complex and encourage its employees during the 70-Day Speed Battle before the convocation of the 7th Party Congress in May.  (Part of the ideological rationale behind this is to show the DPRK’s population that the machine-building industry which largely contributes to the country’s arms and munitions sector can use some of their machinery to contribute to the domestic, civilian economy)  And yet,  he was also instructing that T’aeso’ng’s factory managers and chief functionaries prepare for his visit, briefing and demonstration with the leading personnel of the country’s nuclear weapons.

Pak Pong Ju visits Ryongnam Dockyard in Namp’o (Photo: KCNA).

DPRK state media reported on March 10 (Thursday) that Premier Pak Pong Ju visited Ryongam Dockyard and Namp’o Port, as well as Pyongyang Railway Station.

Pak’s first stop was at the Pyongyang Railway Station where he “took measures for realizing the production of paints necessary for modernization of railways  and maintaining the interior of trains in a cultured way.”  Pak then visited Namp’o stopping at the Ryongnam Dockyard and Namp’o Port.  He toured the Ryongnam Dockyard and to “learn in detail about the attainment of the goal of the 70-day campaign.”  According to KCNA Pak Pong Ju “stressed the need for the dockyard to take the lead in carrying the last instructions of the great leaders and upholding the party’s policies in the future, too” and he “discussed the issues of pushing ahead with the repair of the wharf and the dock.”

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju inspects finishing work on railway carriages at Pyongyang Railway Station (Photo: KCNA).

Pak also toured Namp’o Port where he “called for meticulously organizing the economic operation and command to let popular masses give fuller play in the ongoing 70-day campaign to work style and traits with which they manufactures the 40 ton crane for containers to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea last year.”

Kim Jong Un supervises a mobile ballistic missile drill (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his meeting with senior nuclear weapons personnel

DPRK state media reported on March 11 (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) observed and guided a mobile ballistic missile test and watched a Korean People’s Army [KPA] tank competition.

Kim Jong Un is briefed prior to the mobile ballistic missile test (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Jong Un guided a sea port of debarkation [SPOD] ballistic missile test, described by KCNA as a “drill conducted under the simulated conditions of exploding nuclear warheads from the preset altitude above targets in the ports under the enemy control where foreign aggressor forces are involved.”  Attending the drill were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Ri Pyong Chol (Senior Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Hong Sung Mu (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department), Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department and a ballistic missile expert), and Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces with a portfolio in the munitions and logistics industry), along with personnel from the WPK Machine-Building [Military] Industry Department, the Second Economy Commission [Second Economic Committee] and other researchers and functionaries involved in the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program.  The drill was commanded by General Kim Rak Gyom, commanding officer of the KPA Strategic Force.

KPA Strategic Force Commander General Kim Rak Gyom issues orders during the mobile ballistic missile test (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Kim Jong Un and General Kim Rak Gyom observe a mobile ballistic missile drill (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

After the drill, Kim Jong Un expressed “great satisfaction over the successful firepower strike drill of the strategic force in which high maneuverability was ensured and a correct launching method was applied to different enemy targets as required by a modern war” and he extended “a militant salute to the service personnel of the KPA Strategic Force in the name of the supreme commander.”  Jong Un issued instructions and tasks “to be fulfilled to further round off the nuclear weapons operation system and properly wage a Chuch’e-oriented ballistic rocket battle.”

A mobile ballistic missile drill (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

He “underscored the need to put greater spurs to developing nuclear weapons, a new goal set by the party and dynamically push forward the diversification of means for delivering nuclear warheads so as to get ready to make nuclear strikes at the enemies from anywhere on the ground, in the air, at sea and underwater.”  Jong Un underlined “the need to steadily improve the nuclear strike capability by boosting the cooperation between the nuclear weapons research field and rocket research field in the future” and issued “militant tasks to conduct more nuclear explosion tests to estimate the destructive power of the newly produced nuclear warheads and other tests to bolster up the nuclear attack capability.”

Kim Jong Un observes a a mobile ballistic missile drill. Also in attendance is General Kim Rak Gyom, commander of the KPA Strategic Command (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un “stressed the need to ensure a prompt and safe operation of nuclear attack system in the state of the nation’s utmost emergency and more thoroughly establish a unitary system of command and control over the strategic nuclear force.”  Jong Un said that “the war-thirsty Park Geun Hye (Pak Ku’n-hye) group is now set to launch the most undisguised nuclear war against the DPRK while staging the largest-ever Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16 joint military exercises after introducing huge aggressor forces including the US imperialist aggressor forces and its satellite troops and even lots of US nuclear strategic means into south Korea, our self-defensive countermeasures should adopts a more preemptive and offensive mode.”

(Photo: KCTV screengrab)

He “declared that the DPRK would make enemies regret their misjudgment made in a wrong time and reckless actions taken without any measure and take a series of Korean-style power countermeasures in succession to this end.  If the US imperialists and south Korean puppet group kick off another reckless military action and stage a clumsy farce against the dignified DPRK, prompted by an extreme wild ambition for invading it, the puppet reactionary regime in south Korea will fall, hit so hard physically that it would never appear again.  As a strong warning had been served already, it is the only way for the Park Geun Hye regime to exercise prudence and self-control so as to escape a miserable end until the last day of its office.”

Kim Jong Un watches the conclusion of a mobile ballistic missile test (Photo: KCTV screen grab).

Jong Un remarked that “we remain unperturbed in the face of the enemies any dangerous saber-rattling under our eyes, but if they destroy even a single tree of grass in our inviolable territory, I will issue a prompt order to launch attacks with all military strike means including nuclear weapons and strike the Park regime and hordes of the puppet military with deadly baptism of fire so that they may not exist any longer.”  He called “on the service personnel of the KPA Strategic Force to clearly show the reckless warmongers what Chuch’e-oriented military counteraction is like” and “issued an order to all the nuclear strike means of the Strategic Force targeting major strike objects in the operation theaters of south Korea and US imperialist aggressor forces bases in the Asia-Pacific region to be always ready for action and fully prepared to fight a decisive battle till the US imperialists and the Park Geun Hye group of traitors are worn out and dispirited with war hysteria against the North.”

Kim Jong Un observes the 2016 KPA Tank Competition, attended by senior KPA command staff (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un later watched the 2016 Tank Competition.  Attending the competition were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), General Pak Yong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), General Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), KPA service branch commander and KPA ground corps commanders, along with command staff of KPA tank units and faculty members of KPA military academies.

Kim Jong Un watches the 2016 KPA Tank Competition. Also in attendance are Chief of the KPA General Staff General Ri Myong Su (a) and Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

(Photos: KCTV screen grab)

The competition consisted of events in tactical mobility and target firing.  According to KCNA, Jong Un said it was “great to see the tanks quickly overcoming obstacles” and he was “pleased to witness the sky-high spirit of the KPA..-tanks represent [that] spirit.”  He was “satisfied with the atmosphere of the competition as ‘enemy’ targets were blown up to pieces and resounding frontline-style information and agitation instilled courage into the tank crews, turning the drill ground into a battlefield.”  The 108th Mechanized Division placed first in the competition.  Coming in second was the tank unit of III Army Corps and the 105th Tank Division, subordinate to the Pyongyang Defense Command.”

View of the 2016 KPA Tank Competition (Photos: KCTV screen grab).

Kim Jong Un wwatches the 2016 KPA Tank Competiton (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

After the competition, Jong Un “advanced important tasks which would serve as guidelines for the KPA to make thorough combat preparations” and he “called for organizing more often such competitions very favorable for revving up the militant spirit and zeal for training and bolstering up the capability of the tank crews in the future.”  He noted that “in case a war breaks out, tanks should advance, sweeping away everything in their way, and destroy the enemy positions…in order to do so, it is necessary to learn from the fighting mettle and spirit of the crews of Hero Tank No. 312 under the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su [Yu Kyo’ng-su] Guards 105th Tank Division of the KPA which hoisted the flag of the Republic on the top of the puppet capital building during the past Fatherland Liberation War [Korean War].”

Views of the 2016 KPA Tank Competition (Photos: KCTV screen grab).

Jong Un issued “important instructions to be implemented to round off the preparation of the tank crew for a war.”  He said that “we will be the first to get the golden opportunity to reunify the country.  If the enemies dare preempt an attack on our inviolable land we should mercilessly wipe them out.”  Kim Jong Un expressed “expectation and belief that the tank crews would defend the Seventh Congress of the WPK and successfully adorn this significant year by bolstering the combat capability and rounding off the combat readiness.”

(Photos: KCTV screen grab)

KPA General Staff (Photo: NK Leadership Watch graphic).

The Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Staff issued a statement on March 12 (Saturday) which formally declared “military counteractions” to the joint US-ROK Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises.  According to KCNA, “the enemies are opening to public without hesitation that the largest-even Ssangyong drill being staged in the P’ohang area of South Korea is the climax of OPLAN 5015 to ‘bring down the social system’ by striking the supreme headquarters and major core facilities in the DPRK through the ‘operation to advance into Pyongyang’ accompanied by a sudden surprise landing on the DPRK.”  The KPA General Staff said the “prevailing grave situation makes all the service personnel of the KPA discard the patience which they have long exercised.”

The KPA General Staff “upon the authorization of the dignified Supreme Command” announced these “military countermeasures”

From this moment, the first combined task units stationed in the eastern, central and western sectors of the front will go over to carrying out the operation for preemptive retaliatory strike at the enemy groups involved in the Ssangyong drill.

It is the Chuch’e-oriented counter-operation mode of the KPA to immediately contain and wipe out by force of arms troops and means involved in the operation the moment it judges their scenario to intrude into inviolable territory, air and waters over which the DPRK’s sovereignty is exercised.

The KPA will counter the enemies’ landing drill aiming at “advance into Pyongyang” with the operation to liberate the whole of south Korea including Seoul and the enemies’ tactics of “high-density strike” with an ultra-precision blitzkrieg strike of the Korean style.

Steadfast is the will of the KPA to mercilessly wipe out those troops hurled into the “operation for advancing into Pyongyang” and blow up the den of architects of it.

Those who intend to launch aggression and war against the DPRK will be as most foolish and miserable as digging their own graves by themselves from that moment.

The KPA is waiting for the moment to punish the aggressors, keeping them within its firing range.

The gun roar for retaliating against the aggressors will turn out to be fireworks celebrating national reunification.

The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK holding tightly the arms to annihilate the enemies with towering hatred for them are waiting for the dignified Supreme Command to issue an order to launch a preemptive strike of justice on the aggressors.

Kim Jong Un is briefed about the missile warhead simulation. In attendance are WPK Senior Deputy Director Ri Pyong Chol (left) and WPK Munitions (Machine-Building)Industry Department deputy director and ballistic missile expert Kim Jong Sik (2nd right) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at the 2016 KPA Tank Competition

(translation variant between KCNA and state broadcasting noted in parentheses)

DPRK state media reported on March 15 (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) observed and guided a simulation for re-entry vehicle of a ballistic rocket.  Also in attendance were Ri Pyong Chol (senior deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Munitions Industry [machine-building industry] Department) and General Kim Rak Gyom (Commander of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Strategic Force).

According to KCNA, the simulation was “conducted in such a way of verifying the thermodynamic structural stability of newly-developed heat-resisting materials through measurement of the erosion degree and internal temperature of the tip under the high press and thermal flow caused by aerodynamic heating when a ballistic rocket reenters the atmosphere.  The test results met the needs for all the technical parameters.  The test proved that the tip’s thermodynamic structural stability is ensured under the pressure equivalent to actual environmental conditions and heat flow about five times stronger than the condition caused at the time of ballistic rocket reentry and, after all, it provided a sure guarantee for the reliability of inter-continental ballistic rocket warhead reentry.”

Missile warhead used in a simulation observed by Kim Jong Un (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

Kim Jong Un observes and manages a reentry simulation for a ballistic missile (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un said that “the trustworthy scientists, technicians and workers in the munitions industry true to the WPK’s revolutionary line of simultaneously developing the two fronts have made long strides in the rocket industry and nuclear technology this year when the Sevenths Congress of the WPK is to be held.  We have proudly acquired the reentry technology, possessed by a few countries styling themselves as military powers , by dint of self-reliance and self-development, thus making a good progress in the ballistic rocket technology that helps strengthen the independence of the country defense capability and munitions industry and remarkably enhance the invisible might of the powerful revolutionary Paektusan (Mt. Paektu) army.”

Kim Jong Un is briefed during a reentry simulation for a ballistic rocket. Seen in attendance are WPK Munitions Industry (Machine-Building Industry) Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik (left) and KPA Strategic Force Commanding Officer, General Kim Rak Gyom (right) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Jong Un said that “the level of our advanced strike means, irrefutable in terms of science and technology, just shows the strength and dignity of our country (KCBS: precisely that of our national power and that of the dignity of our fatherland)”  He stressed “the need for munitions industry to rapidly develop the military science and technology and raise higher the level of putting the defense industry on a Chuch’e-based, modern and scientific basis and thus develop and produce more on the highest level diverse and Korean-style military strike means and shells for realizing the Party Central Committee’s idea on the military strategy and tactics.”  Kim Jong Un declared that “a nuclear warhead explosion test and a test-fire of several kinds of ballistic rockets (KCBS: various kinds of nuclear-armed ballistic rockets) able to carry nuclear warheads will be conducted in a short time (KCBS: at an early date) to further enhance the reliance of nuclear attack capability (KCBS: to fully increase the reliability of nuclear offensive capability) ” and he instructed “the relevant section to make prearrangements (KCBS: make perfect preparations in advance) for them to the last detail.”

Kim Jong Un issues instruction on the development of a new residential area in Pyongyang. At the right is Ma Wo’n-chun, director of the NDC Design Department (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a reentry simulation at T’aeso’ng Machine Factory

DPRK state media reported on March 18 (Friday) that Kim Jong Un visited an area in northern Pyongyang and ordered the construction of Ryomyo’ng Street, a residential area near Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun and Ryo’nghu’ng crossroads in Pyongyang.    Also in attendance were Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Kim Yo Jong (deputy director of the WPK Propaganda and Agitation Department and Jong Un’s sister) and Kim Chang Gwang (deputy director of the WPK Science Education Department) and Ma Won Chun (Director of the National Defense Commission Design Department).

Kim Jong Un issues instructions about the development of Ryomyo’ng Street, envisioned as a new residential district for academics and other personnel in Pyongyang (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un looked at a map and proposed layout of the new street and issued instructions “for building the street into a monumental edifice strikingly displaying the WPK’s idea of attaching importance to science and talents and the might of socialist Korea.  The essence of its construction is to splendidly build apartment houses for scientists and researchers including educators of Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) University, a nursery, kindergarten, laundry, post office and other public buildings and public service amenities.”  He stressed the “need to push forward the construction of Building #3 of the university at the same time” and said that “it is the Party’s intention to turn Ryomyo’ng Street into an energy-saving and green street in the 21st Century… the designing and construction units should set it as a goal to ensure the lighting and heating systems for the houses and public buildings with solar panels, geothermal energy and natural lighting and build rooftop greenhouses to go green.”

Kim Jong Un issues instructions about the layout and design of Ryomyo’ng Street in Pyongyang. Also attending the visit was his sister Kim Yo’-cho’ng and WPK Central Committee Department deputy directors Jo Yo’ng-wo’n and Kim Chang-kwang (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

Jong Un said that he would “dispatch the soldier-builders, who took part in the construction of Mirae Scientists’ Street, to the construction of Ryomyo’ng Street on the order of the KPA Supreme Commander” and he issued an instruction that “the entire party, state and society should render positive assistance to the construction and the Cabinet, commissions, ministries and national institutions take the lead in this work.  The construction of the street is no merely for formation of a street but serves as a political occasion for clearing showing the spirit of the DPRK standing up and keeping up with the world, despite all sorts of sanctions and pressure by the US imperialists and their followers, the appearance of the country advancing to realize the great ideal of the people and the truth that DPRK is able to be well-off in its own way and nothing is impossible for it to do.”

Kim Jong Un issues instructions on the development of a residential area in Pyongyang (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

He noted that the construction “of Ryomyo’ng Street is a fierce battle with the US imperialists and their followers” and he called “for completing the construction within this year to inspire the servicepersons and people with faith in sure victory and optimism and demonstrate the might of the DPRK fighting its way out with conviction in the rosy future and the traditions of ever-victorious Chuch’e Korea that the world has neither understood nor can do.”

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju is briefed about products at the Rakwo’n Machine Complex in Sinu’iju (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

DPRK state media reported on March 21 (Monday) that Premier Pak Pong visited the Rakwo’n (Nagwo’n) Machine Complex and Ponghwa Chemical Factory in Sinu’iju and toured agriculture machine factories in North Hwanghae and North P’yo’ngan Province.

Pak was briefed about production at Rakwo’n Machine Complex and Ponghwa Chemical Factory in Sinu’ju and he “encouraged the workers, scientists, technicians and officials who are performing unprecedented miracles and feats in the 70-day campaign.”  He called “on them to make once again great innovations and leap forward in the production of various castings and items of cooperative production by learning from the spirit and traits shown by the ten party members of Rakwo’n and thus successfully carry out the last instructions of leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il).”

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju is briefed at the Ponghwa Chemical Factory in North P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: KCNA).

At the Ponghwa Chemical Factory, an oil refinery, Pak Pong Ju held a meeting with managers and employees which “discussed the measures for solving the issues arising in updating some production processes.”

The DPRK Premier also toured agricultural machine factories in Sariwo’n, Ch’o’ngju, Kwaksan and Namsi and “called for fully supplying farm machine accessories.”

Kim Jong Un observes KPA artillery units participating in an anti-landing drill (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his visit to the development of Ryomyo’ng Street in Pyongyang

DPRK state media reported on March 20 (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) observed and commanded landing and anti-landing drill by the the East Sea Fleet of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Navy, the 2nd Air Division of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Forces, VII Army Corps’ artillery subunits and elements of the 108th Mechanized Division (Motorized Infantry Division).  Also in attendance were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), General Pak Yong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), General Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Lieutenant-General Rim Kwang Il (Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau and 1st Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff), General Choe Yong Ho (Commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Forces), Vice Admiral Ri Yong Chu (Commander of the KPA Navy), Lieutenant-General Yun Yong Sik (head of the KPA Artillery Command), Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), General Jo Kyong Chol (Director of the Military Security Command) and other KPA command staff.  Observing the drill were KPA corps commanders and faculty of the DPRK’s military academies.

Kim Jong Un is briefed about a landing and anti-landing drill. Also in attendance is Chief of the KPA General Staff General Ri Myong Su (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

(Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Following the landing drill, Jong Un said “with pleasure that such surprise landing and attack on the coast would result in a victorious battle” while after the anti-landing drill, Jong Un remarked that “artillerymen are very skilled in shooting…any enemy group wil never land on the seashore of the country as our reliable artillerymen stand guard in full readiness to wipe out the aggressors.”

Kim Jong Un attending the landing and anti-landing drill. Also in attendance (L-R) are: Chief of the KPA General Staff General Ri Myong Su; Director of the Mlitary Security Command General Jo Kyong Chol (partially obscured) and head of the KPA Artillery Command Lieutenant-General Yun Yong Sik (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un expressed “great satisfaction over the successful drills and set forth the tasks for rounding off the KPA’s combat readiness under the prevailing situation.  The victory of an amphibious battle depends mainly on how to neutralize the enemy’s possible anti-landing movements while getting over its coastal defenses at one go.”  He “stressed the need to elaborate on the workable combat operations in this regard and ratchet up the practical drills for getting familiar with them and improve the armament on the navy’s surface ships.”  Jong Un said that “in order to bury at sea any enemy groups attacking to land in the coast of the country, training should be intensified among the units and subunits of the KPA as required by the Chuch’e-based idea and tactics on the coastal defense newly set forth by the Party.”

Kim Jong Un tours the October 3 Factory of the KPA Navy (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his inspection and guidance of a landing and anti-landing drill

DPRK state media reported on March 22 (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the October 3 Factory of the Korean Peple’s Army [KPA] Navy and inspected and supervised another test firing of a 300 mm multiple launch rocket system [MLRS]

Jong Un first visited the KPA Navy’s October 3 Factory a ship repair and maintenance facility that was recently renovated.  Attending this visit were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), General Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department), Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Military Industry [machine-building] Department) and Ma Won Chun (director of the National Defense Commission [NDC] Design Department).

Kim Jong Un tours various parts of the October 3 Factory (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

He said that the renovated factory had “been so drastically face-lifted that its appearance last year could no longer be found” and “an icon and standard in the nation’s field of ship repair.”  He toured rooms depicting the factory’s institutional and revolutionary histories and noted that “the factory today would be unthinkable without the meticulous guidance and care of President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il).”  He underscored “the need for the factory to effectively conduct education in the exploits performed by the great leaders and the Party among its employees through the successfully built room for the education in the revolutionary history and room dedicated to the history.”

Kim Jong Un is briefed about the renovation and production at the October 3 Factory (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Jong Un remarked that a “clear line of distinction between the area for production and that for workers’ living was draw to provide the workers with the best working and living conditions and various cultural and welfare facilities, sporting ground and dwelling houses for employees were successfully built to keep harmony with the coastal area…it looks like a health a resort.”  He issued instructions “to be implemented by the factory to manage and operate” and noted the “factory has a very important role to play in developing the Chuch’e-oriented naval force.  The remodeling of the factory as a modern one by our own efforts of which we can be proud was striking demonstration of the indomitable fighting spirit and validity of the cause of the army and people of the DPRK who are waging an offensive despite difficulties and trials while resolutely smashing the desperate moves of the US imperialists and their followers to stifle Korean socialism.”  Kim Jong Un expressed “great expectation and conviction that the officials of the factory would make positive contributions to developing the Chuch’e-oriented naval force.  The territorial waters mean national defense in Korea surrounded by the sea on three sides.”

Kim Jong Un observs the test firing of a new 300 mm multiple launch rocket system (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un also inspected and guided the test firing of a new 300 mm MLRS.  Attending the test firing were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department) General Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Colonel-General Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces with a portfolio in the munitions and logistics industries), Jo Yong Won (deputy director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), Hong Yong Chil (deputy director of the WPK Military Industries (machine-building) Department) and Kim Jong Sik (deputy director of the WPK Military Industries (machine-building) Department and a ballistic missile expert).

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA)

After the MLRS’ test firing Jong Un expressed “great satisfaction over the perfect accuracy of the rockets” and “highly praised once the officials, scientists and technicians in the field of defense science and munitions factories for successfully manufacturing the system which of great strategic importance in remarkably increasing the capability of the KPA to mount a precision attack on the enemies’ targets in the operational theater in the southern party of Korea.”

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA)

Kim Jong Un also expressed “great expectation and belief that they would bring the greatest heyday in the development of national defense science this year when the Seventh Congress of the WPK is to be held steadily intensifying the work for developing new Chuch’e-based weapons of Korean style, true to the WPK’s idea of attaching importance to national defense science and technology.”  He posed for a commemorative photograph with the cadres, scientists and technical personnel involved with the test firing.

(Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).