North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

KJU Marks Air Force Day

Pyongyang, December 1 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, visited the Air Force Command of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) on the Thursday morning on the occasion of the Day of Airmen and congratulated all the service personnel of the heroic people’s air force.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was accompanied by KPA Marshal Pak Jong Chon and KPA Vice Marshal Ri Yong Gil, chief of the KPA General Staff.

When Kim Jong Un arrived at the Air Force Command, service personnel of the air force burst into passionate cheers of “Hurrah!” full of great joy and excitement of receiving the highest glory and privilege to be recorded forever in the history of development of the Juche-oriented people’s air force along with their significant founding holiday.

A ceremony of greeting the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of the DPRK took place.

After receiving a salute from the head of the guard of honor of the KPA Air Force, Kim Jong Un reviewed the guard.

Airpersons presented him with fragrant bouquets, reflecting the boundless reverence and gratitude of all the service personnel of the air force.

He was greeted by General Kim Kwang Hyok, KPA Air Force commander, Lieutenant General Om Ju Ho, political commissar, and other military and political officers of the Air Force Command with deepest respect.

There took place a march-past of the guard of honor of the KPA Air Force.

Guided by the commander of the Air Force, Kim Jong Un went round the operation command post and the room for study of operational plan.

After receiving a report on the enemy situation and the operational plan of the air force from the Air Force commander, he learned in detail about the operation command and the IT-based situation management.

Highly appreciating the fact that the Air Force Command has put the management of enemy situation and command system on an IT and modern basis on a high level, he stressed the need for the Air Force to continuously take the lead in modernizing the operational command system as befitting the core service of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK with the richest experience of real war and strong fighting efficiency.

He set forth operational and tactical policies arising in putting the Air Force on a regular combat posture and increasing its capabilities to fight a war to the full so as to counter any military provocation and threat of the enemy immediately and powerfully.

After looking round the operation command post and the room for study of operational plan, Kim Jong Un had a significant photo session with the service personnel of the Air Force Command of the KPA on the occasion of the Day of Airmen.

When he appeared at the venue of photo session, all the service personnel raised cheers of excitement, looking up to the great brilliant commander, the tender-hearted father who always keeps the airmen nearest his mind and shows all sorts of love and privileges for them and encouraged the Air Force so that it could demonstrate its might as matchless service defending the Party and the revolution.

He extended warm greetings to the enthusiastically cheering service personnel of the Air Force and warmly congratulated them on the holiday of the Juche-oriented Air Force which performed heroic feats shining with victory and glory on the route of defending the country along with the long history of the great Workers’ Party of Korea.

He expressed firm belief that all the airpersons, commanding officers and service personnel of the heroic KPA Air Force would continue to make a tangible contribution to impregnably defending the clear sky of the country and ushering in a new era of greater glory and prosperity for our state and people by carrying forward the proud history and tradition of victory which they have been remained absolutely faithful to the Party and the revolution.

When the photo session was over, the loud cheers of “Kim Jong Un” and “Devoted defence” shouted by the service personnel of the Air Force reverberated to the sky of November to reflect their firm pledge to become a fortress and shield of the sky remaining absolutely loyal to the idea and leadership of Kim Jong Un and devotedly defending the territorial air of the country to firmly guarantee the prosperity and development of our socialist state.

Kim Jong Un paid a congratulatory visit to a regiment of the First Division of the KPA Air Force on the Thursday afternoon.

When he arrived at the unit together with his beloved daughter, all the airpersons and servicepersons of the Air Force broke into stormy cheers full of excitement and joy of receiving the greatest glory and happiness.

A division ceremony of greeting him took place.

He was greeted by leading commanding officers of the KPA Air Force.

He warmly blessed the bright future of the people’s air force after having photo sessions with airpersons and other servicepersons of the unit and major commanding officers of the Air Force in commemoration of the Day of Airmen to be handed down to the history of the army building.

Then he mounted an observation post to watch a demonstration flight of airpersons.

Enjoying the great pleasure of making a flight in the presence of him on the significant founding holiday of the people’s Air Force, airpersons fully demonstrated the invincible might of the flying corps of Kim Jong Un.

Whenever the airpersons presented various combat and mobile aeronautics with brave and flexible control, he warmly acknowledged and encouraged them.

Highly appreciating the fact that the airpersons of the unit have been fully prepared to perfectly carry out their air combat missions under any unfavorable situation, he said it is a great pride of the Party and the state to have such airpersons who cherish the spirit of devotedly serving the Party and revolution, the country and the people as their lifeline and noble duty.

He summoned the airpersons who took part in the drill and had a significant photo session with them.

The airpersons, who received his deep love and trust, made a firm pledge to more fully prepare themselves to be the phoenix of the sky, the red hawk of the Workers’ Party, which fly only over the route of defending the country and the revolution, with their destiny linked to the yard to the Party Central Committee.

Then, Kim Jong Un watched a volleyball game between the Air Force team and the Navy team held on the occasion of the Day of Airmen.

The gymnasium was full of joy and optimism of the players who were to play a significant sports game and cheering persons in the presence of the Supreme Commander whom they had yearned for so much.

The air force team beat the navy team 3:0 in the fierce game, amid the stubborn spirit of the players to defend the honor of services and enthusiastic cheering.

Kim Jong Un enjoyed a performance given by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the KPA Air Force on the occasion of the Day of Airmen at the hall of culture of the unit.

Put on the stage of the performance were chorus, mixed chorus, instrumental ensemble, mixed group dance and other colorful numbers. The performers vividly represented the firm will of all the service personnel of the air force to achieve only victory, braving any clouds and flames to defend Kim Jong Un, the sun of the destiny of the airpersons and the linage of Paektu.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it hardened the unshakable faith that there is no such a blessed life as our airpersons who are living under the care of the great brilliant commander and that eternal victory and glory lie in flying along the route indicated by the Party Central Committee.

Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction, appreciating that the artistes of the Air Force Song and Dance Ensemble impressively represented the high ideological and spiritual world of the airpersons with excellent artistry.

It is the logic of power, justice and philosophy of our Party that even an egg, when charged with ideology, can break a rock, he said, adding that victory or failure in the fight depend on for what and with what idea one fights, not on the combat data of weapons and equipment. He noted that no matter how the enemy boasts of its technical superiority, it can not overpower the political and ideological advantages of our airpersons.

Saying that all the airpersons should be fully prepared to be reliable phoenixes of the WPK and the strongest ones in mental power with indomitable revolutionary faith who inherit only the route of loyalty and victory, cherishing the trust and expectation of the Party, the country and the people despite any ordeals, he expressed deep belief that all the service personnel would in the future, too, fully demonstrate the mightiness of the heroic people’s air force and firmly guarantee the cause of the Party and the building of the ideal society of the people with invincible power.

Extending their gratitude to Kim Jong Un who significantly celebrated the Day of Airmen with the service personnel of the air force and opened up a new bright period of the development of the air force, all the participants made a firm pledge to fully demonstrate the militant spirit of the great air force Kim Jong Un in thoroughly implementing the idea and line of building the air force in the new era clarified by the Party Central Committee.

Kim Jong Un gave a banquet in the evening of November 30 in celebration of the Day of Airmen.

Present there on invitation were General Kim Kwang Hyok, commander of the KPA Air Force, Lieutenant General Om Ju Ho, political commissar, and other military and political commanding officers of the Air Force Command, division and brigade commanders, political commissars, regimental commanders, battalion commanders and airpersons.

KPA Marshal Pak Jong Chon, KPA Vice Marshal Ri Yong Gil, chief of the KPA General Staff, and cadres of the WPK Central Committee attended the significant banquet.

Pak Jong Chon made a speech at the banquet.

The venue of the banquet was replete with impressive scenes showing kindred ties between the great brilliant commander and the bodyguards in the sacred journey for opening up the greatest heyday of bolstering up the air force in the new era of the Juche revolution.

An affiliate of 38 North