Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has been in the media spotlight around the world since he was appointed supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK on December 30, 2011.
What is noteworthy is that he has further strengthened the Korean People’s Army into an army strong in ideology and faith.
Each time he inspects army units, he looks round the soldiers’ halls and other ideological and cultural bases before acquainting himself with their combat readiness. This tells how much he is concerned about the service personnel’s political and ideological preparedness.
The ideological and spiritual state of the KPA servicemen was exemplified by those of its overseas operation units who participated in the military operation to liberate Kursk Region of the Russian Federation. They blocked the enemy’s gun muzzles with their chests, chose to blow themselves up without hesitation, and shielded their superior officers with their bodies to protect them from enemy’s bullets. And they shouted “Long live the DPRK” at the last moments of their lives.
Many are unanimous in their opinion that such a mindset is shared by all the other service personnel of the KPA.
Of particular note in his military leadership is the exploits he has made in bolstering up the DPRK’s war deterrence.
In recent years, the country has made an array of world-startling achievements in its bid to boost its self-defensive military capability. Among them are the ICBMs of Hwasongpho series that showed off the most powerful war deterrence, various kinds of strategic and tactical missiles, 600mm MRLSs, an unprecedented and advanced weapon system, tactical nuclear strike submarine, a new generation of multi-mission attack destroyers, and different unmanned military hardware including strategic and tactical reconnaissance drones. These are all cutting-edge hardware pieces that are capable of coping with the changing style of modern warfare in an active and effective way and can be adopted in the futuristic war. The military parade held on October 10 this year in celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea unveiled the country’s most powerful strategic nuclear weapons and other modern armaments, serving as a good occasion in demonstrating its war deterrence.
Hwasongpho-19, the DPRK’s latest version of ICBM, blasts off in a test fire in October 2024.
ICBM Hwasongpho-20, the most powerful strategic nuclear weapon system of the DPRK, rolls on in the military parade held to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK in October 2025.
A number of the DPRK’s 600mm MRLSs fire a volley in the first combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack in April 2024.
The first tactical nuclear strike submarine of the KPA’s Navy (September 2023)
A strategic reconnaissance drone of the KPA tests its military strategic value and innovative performance.