Kim Jong Un Inspects Island Defense Units of the KPA Southwestern Command

Kim Jong Un is briefed about artillery tactics and ROK troop movements in a photo which appeared top-center on the front page of the May 5, 2017 edition of the WPK daily organ Rodong Sinmun

KJU’s last observed appearance was his observation and guidance of live fire exercises on April 25 (Army Day)

DPRK state media reported on May 5 (Friday) that Kim  Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) conducted a field inspection of island defense detachments of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Southwestern Front Command [KPA Southwest Front Command Zone] on Changjae (Jangjae) and Mu Islets.  Also in attendance were KPA General Political Department Director and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman VMar Hwang Pyong So (Hwang Pyo’ng-so), 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. So Hong Chan (So Hong-chan), KPA Artillery Bureau Director and Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff Colonel-General Pak Jong Chon (Pak Cho’ng-ch’on), IV Army Corps Commander Colonel-General Ri Song Guk (Ri So’ng-kuk), IV Army Corps Political Commissar Major-General Ri Yong Chol (Ri Yo’ng-ch’o’l) along with Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Committee Deputy Directors O Il Jong (O Il-cho’ng) and Jo Yong Won (Cho Yo’ng-wo’n).

Attending KJU’s field inspection of the KPA’s southwestern command zone was O Il Jong (tagged). O served as the WPK Military Affairs Department Director from 2010 to 2015. His last observed appearance was in October 2015 after which he was subjected to re-education (Photo: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

KPA Artillery Bureau Director Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon [a] briefs Kim Jong Un. Also in attendance are 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. So Hong Chan [b], KPA General Political Department Director and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman VMar Hwang Pyong So [c] and IV Army Corps Commander Col. Gen. Ri Song Guk [d] (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Changjae Islet in 2015 (Photo: Google image).

Overview from the south of the area in the West Sea between the DPRK and South Korea (Photo: Google image)

Jong Un’s first stop was to Changjae Islet where he looked at Yo’np’yo’ng Island in the ROK.  Colonel-General Pak Jong Chon briefed Km Jong Un on the “recent movements” of ROK forces (“of the enemy of the Command for the Defense of Northwestern Islands of the south Korean puppet army”) and Jong Un “acquainted and examined the plan for fire strike of the newly organized forces at the objects of the enemy.”  He said that the KPA’s artillery forces stationed on Changjae Islet”should keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy once ordered.”  Jong Un toured and inspected the artillery positions and pieces.  He then toured a desalination facility, the barracks, mess, vegetable garden and livestock stables.  After his visit, he posed for a commemorative photo with KPA service members and their families stationed on Changjae Islet.

Images of Kim Jong Un’s field inspection of islet defense detachments under the KPA Southwestern Front Command (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Images of Kim Jong Un’s field inspection of Changjae Islet and binocular views of Yo’np’yo’ng Island, ROK (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un moved on to Mu Islet.  He inspected the observation post, artillery storage and artillery pieces and was briefed about its combat posture.  He remarked that the “Hero Defense Detachment on Mu Islet smashed the reckless and provocative shelling by the south Korean puppet warmongers with the merciless shower of shells to turn Yo’np’yo’ng Island into a sea of fire, thus showing the spirit of the artillery of the KPA before the enemy.  The Yo’np’yo’ng Island shelling was the most delightful battle after the ceasefire and the feat of the service members of the Defense Detachment on Mu Islet is the brilliant military service to hand down through the generations along with the history of the Workers’ Party of Korea.  Recruits should steadfastly carry on the baton of the praiseworthy feats and demonstrate the mettle of the hero defense detachment in the future battle once again.”

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph with KPA service members and their families on Changjae Islet (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photo with KPA service members and families stationed on Mu Islet (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un was reminded of the Mu Islet defense detachment’s performance in the KPA’s artillery competition and he “encouraged the service members of the gun to take the lead in the whole army” and posed for a commemorative photo with the KPA service members in front of the artillery gun.  He toured the Mu Islet desalination facility and ensured its operability by drinking some of the water.  He toured the barracks, classroom, bathing area and “took warm care of the service members.”  He ended his field inspection by posing for a commemorative photograph with the KPA service members and their families stationed on Mu Islet.  Jong Un was “greatly satisfied with the combat readiness and the soldiers’ living of the two defense detachment” and his visit “confirmed that all the combat positions are fully ready for combat and to go into action.”  He was also “most pleased to see that the issue of drinking water for the soldiers” on Changjae and Mu Islets “had been completely solved.”  He said that the “duty of the two defense detachments is very important” and he issued instructions for “rounding off combat readiness.”