Kim Jong Un Takes Part In Military Drill Showcasing New Battle Tank In North Korea

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, participated in a military demonstration that showcased a new battle tank.

What Happened: The state-run media outlet, KCNA, stated that Kim expressed significant satisfaction with the performance of the tank during its inaugural display on Wednesday, as reported by NBC News. The demonstration aimed to assess the combat abilities of the tank crews and acquaint them with diverse tactical missions.

The 105th Tank Division, a unit recognized for its role in the Korean War, took part in the mock battle. Kim, along with other high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam, were present at the event.

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Why It Matters: This military demonstration comes in the wake of the conclusion of the joint annual drills, known as the Freedom Shield exercises, by South Korea and the United States. These drills were the first to take place since North Korea annulled a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing tensions.

The South Korean army reported that the combined forces had carried out a joint live-fire exercise at a training base in Pocheon over the past week. North Korea has consistently criticized these military drills, perceiving them as war rehearsals, while Seoul insists they are purely defensive.

This demonstration follows Kim’s recent supervision of an artillery firing drill by the Korean People’s Army near the South Korean border. Earlier this month, Kim directed an artillery firing drill near Seoul, a move seen as escalating tensions with the U.S. and its Asian allies.

Just days before, Kim had responded to the U.S. and South Korean military drills by escalating his military’s war readiness. The North Korean leader supervised the field training of troops at a significant military operations base in the western region of North Korea.

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