Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised air drills and underscored the need for a step-up in war preparation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on May 17.
According to the state-run news agency, Kim, who inspected anti-aircraft combat and air strike drills by North Korea’s 1st Air Division on May 15, called for “all units in the entire military” in order to bring about “a breakthrough in war preparation.”
Photos released by KCNA showed a MiG-29 fighter jet launching what appears to be a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile similar in design to the United States’ AIM-120 AMRAAM and China’s PL-12 to intercept cruise missile and drone targets.
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
What appear to be two versions of a locally-made guided glide bomb, one of which equipped an optical seeker, were also presented to Kim.
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Also as a part of the drills, MD 500 light helicopters intercepted mock drones and Su-25 close air support jets practiced the bombing of naval targets.
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
In addition, Kim oversaw demonstration flights of a large reconnaissance drone resembling the U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk and a combat drone with a design similar to that of the MQ-9 Reaper, armed with missiles nearly identical to the American-made AGM-114 Hellfire.
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
After overseeing the air drills, Kim met with the pilots who participated and highly praised them for “fully demonstrating their combat capability,” which he said “deserves the trust and confidence of the country and the people,” according to KCNA.
North Korea has been working to modernize and enlarge its conventional armed forces, as well as its nuclear and missile arsenals. Despite facing strict international sanctions, the country made significant progress in recent years, especially when it comes to precision-guided weapons and unmanned systems.
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the american president will live to regret calling kim “rocket man ” and so will south korea.
god bless little rocket man. always keeping liberal-democratic scum on their toes.
nk is at the forefront of the fight against jewsa terrorism.
russia’s friend 😆😆😆