North Korea conducts artillery firing drills

Asia-Pacific, News November 9, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

On November 7, North Korean mechanized forces conducted an artillery fire exercise as part of an effort to improve the country’s defense capabilities.

According to the media sources, the exercises that were conducted on Saturday aimed at strengthening Pyongyang’s military capabilities as North Korea continues to pressure the U.S. and South Korea to abandon their “double standards” and “hostile policies”.

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “As soon as the firing orders were given by the commanders of the combined units, gun barrels to annihilate the enemy competitively shelled the target to accurately hit it.”

The KCNA pointed out that the exercise was conducted by mechanized troops to strengthen the combat readiness of the Korean People’s Army and improve their combat effectiveness,” as well as test the combat capability of mobile artillery.

The latest exercise was led by a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea Pak Jong Chon, while several high-ranking North Korean military officials were also present during the drills. The KCNA report did not mention North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, implying that he did not observe the latest training.

^{Pak Jong-chon (L), a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, observing artillery fire drills in this photo released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. (Image Credit: KNCA-Yonhap)}

KCNA reported that this year’s exercises were designed to inspect the mechanized units’ progress in their mobile combat capabilities and to further intensify competitive training throughout the North Korean forces. The exercises come “at a time when the enthusiasm to undergo intensive training prevails throughout the Korean People’s Army for ushering in a new heyday in strengthening the state defense capabilities under the banner of self-defense,” KCNA added.

On Saturday a North Korean propaganda weekly, the Tongil Sinbo criticized the five-day joint air exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korean Air Forces (from Nov 1 to Nov 5) and called it a “war rehearsal”, obstructing peace efforts in the Korean Peninsula.

Since September 2021, North Korea has conducted a series of weapon tests including its newly developed hypersonic missile with nuclear capabilities to show its military strength.

The US-led negotiations to end North Korea’s nuclear program broke down in early 2019 due to a dispute over sanctions. US officials recently proposed to resume talks with North Korea without any preconditions. South Korean president also reiterated hopes to resume peace talks with North Korea despite growing tensions. However, North Korean officials have clearly stated that unless the U.S. first abandons its “hostile policy” towards North Korea, they will not return to the talks.

Experts believe that North Korea seeks to normalize its defense activities with the goal of winning international acceptance of its nuclear and ballistic missiles that have been sanctioned by UN Security Council resolutions.