Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea, has participated in tank training exercises alongside his troops, operating newly developed battle tanks and emphasising the need for heightened preparations for war, state media reported on Thursday.
The tank training, which took place on Wednesday, was interpreted as a response to the annual 11-day military drills conducted by South Korea and the United States, scheduled to conclude later that Thursday. North Korea perceives these joint exercises as a practice for invasion.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North’s training aimed to assess the combat capabilities of tank crews and featured the use of new-type main battle tanks described by Kim as “the world’s most powerful.” The exercises involved heavy tanks navigating through simulated combat scenarios and engaging targets with live rounds. Kim himself reportedly operated one of the new tanks, contributing to the morale of the tank crews.
North Korea’s Defence Ministry had previously pledged to conduct “responsible military activities” in response to the ongoing joint military drills between South Korea and the US. Kim later oversaw artillery firing drills as part of these activities.
The South Korean-US joint exercises consist of computer-simulated command post training and 48 different field exercises, twice the number conducted in the previous year.
Since early 2022, North Korea has intensified its weapons testing efforts as part of its efforts to modernise and expand its nuclear and missile arsenals. In response, the US and South Korea have increased their training exercises, including trilateral drills involving Japan.
Experts suggest that Kim aims to leverage his enhanced weapons capabilities to secure concessions from the US, such as significant relief from international sanctions imposed on North Korea. They anticipate that North Korea will continue its testing activities and escalate its aggressive rhetoric this year, particularly as the United States and South Korea undergo major election cycles.