Kim Jong Un Inspects KPA Strategic Force Command Element

Kim Jong Un inspects the KPA Strategic Rocket Force’s proposed plan for launching an IRBM off the coast of Guam during an August 14, 2017 visit to its command element. Also in attendance (L-R) are KPA Strategic Force Commander Gen. Kim Rak Gyom, WPK Munitions Industry Department Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik and KPA General Political Department Director and SAC Vice Chairman VMar Hwang Pyong So (Photo: Korean Central News Agency).

KJU’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a banquet at Moknan House with missile test personnel

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) conducted a field inspection of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Strategic Force’s command element on August 14 (Monday).  Also in attendance were KPA General Political Department Director and State Affairs Commission [SAC] Vice Chairman VMar Hwang Pyong So (Hwang Pyo’ng-so), Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Munitions Industry Department Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik (Kim Cho’ng-sik) and KPA Strategic Force Commander Gen. Kim Rak Gyom and

Jong Un’s inspection began with him greeting and posing for commemorative photographs with officers and service members of the Strategic Force’s command element.  He then toured an ideological indoctrination room.  During his tour he “looked back with deep emotion on the great leadership feats of the brilliant commanders of Mt. Paektu, recorded on every page of the history of the KPA Strategic Force displaying its might with the strength unprecedented in the world as powerful strike service, symbolic of the dignity and power of Korea.”

After the tour, Gen. Kim Rak Gyom informed Kim Jong Un of his decision about the Strategic Force “plan for an enveloping fire at Guam.”  Jong Un studied the plan and deliberated with senior officials “in real earnest.”  He praised the “KPA Strategic Force for drawing up a close and careful plan as planned and intended by the Party and examined the firing preparations for power demonstration.”  After Gen. Kim said that the Strategic Force “is waiting for the order of the Party Central Committee after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam,” Kim Jong Un said “with great satisfaction that the spirit of Hwasong artilleryman is very high” and Jong Un was “freshly determined seeing by himself the combat preparedness and the sky-high spirit of the Hwasong artillerymen of the large combined unit (taeyonhap pudae).”

Jong Un said that the “US imperialists caught the noose around their necks due to their reckless military confrontation racket…I will watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot.”  He remarked that he “wants to advise the US, which is driving the situation on the Korean peninsula into the touch-and-go situation, running helter-skelter, to take into full account gains and losses with a clear head whether the prevailing situation is more unfavorable for any party.  In order to defuse the tensions and prevent the dangerous military conflict on the Korean Peninsula, it is necessary for the US to make a proper option first and show it through action, as it committed provocations after introducing huge nuclear strategic equipment into the vicinity of the peninsula.  The US should stop at once its arrogant provocations against the DPRK, and its unilateral demands and not provoke it any longer.”

Kim Jong Un said that “if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of the DPRK, the latter will make an important decision as it already declared.”  He warned that the US “that it should think reasonably and judge properly not to suffer shame that it is hit by the DPRK again.”  He said “if the planned fire of power demonstration is carried out as the US is going more reckless, it will be the most delightful historic moment when the Hwasong artillerymen will wring the windpipes of the Yankees and point daggers at their necks.”  He underlined the “need to be always ready for launching to go into action anytime once our Party decides.”

Kim Jong Un toured a training school and gym and called for “firmly establishing Chuch’e in education and steadily improving the quality of military training and thus preparing all the artillerymen of the large combined units to be fighters capable of waging a campaign of brains that had perfectly mastered the modern military science and technology, the enemy’s changed war methods and Korean-style war methods against them.”  He placed stress on the “need to certainly establish the system of reeducating commanding officers and technicians of the Strategic Force in line with the modernization and upgrading of ballistic rockets.”  He also toured the commissary and dining facilities and “took warm care of the soldiers’ life as their real father would.”

Jong Un then watched a performance by the Strategic Force command element’s art propaganda squad and expressed “great satisfaction over the good performance given by members of the squad through numbers vividly representing the operational mission and features of the Strategic Force and desire, thoughts and feelings of the Hwasong artillerymen.”  He also gave “precious teachings” about the squad’s performance. He said that the KPA Strategic Force “has a very important position and duty in carrying the strategic plans of the Workers’ Party of Korea” and stressed the “need for the Strategic Force to firmly establish the monolithic leadership system, command and management system of the Supreme Commander over the nuclear force and further complete the Chuch’e-oriented rocket strike methods.”

He said he “remains confident thanks to the KPA Strategic Force, a reliable treasured sword guaranteeing the everlasting future of the country and nation” and expressed his “expectation and belief that all the officers and men of the Strategic Force would bring about a fresh turn in rounding off combat preparation, bearing in mind the important mission they have assumed before the Party, the country and the people. ”  According to DPRK state media, “the officers and men of the KPA Strategic Force, who received great trust from him were firmly determined to score the final victory in the standoff with the US by scorching with a super strong strike the targets in South Korea, Japan, operational area in the Pacific and the US mainland, flying the sacred red flags of the Party and flags of the supreme commander at every matchless launching pad once he gives an order.”