North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced plans to equip the Air Force with new “strategic military assets.” This move, he stated, will grant the Air Force “new and important responsibilities” in the coming period. The announcement was made during celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Air Force’s founding.
Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who is widely speculated to be his potential successor, also attended the event. Images released by North Korean state media showed Kim and his daughter observing aerial drills involving jet fighters, drones, and mobile missile launchers.
The North Korean leader also inspected several aircraft, including an airborne early warning aircraft that Pyongyang unveiled earlier this year. This display comes amid reports that North Korea has begun large-scale production of small, short-range FPV drones, as well as larger attack drones for battlefield use, according to a Ukrainian intelligence official.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim emphasized the vital role the Air Force will play in “exercising nuclear deterrence,” adding that the country expects “truly great things” from the Air Force. He further stated that the Air Force will be tasked with countering all forms of espionage and military provocations by what he termed “enemies.”
Kim’s statements come against a backdrop of increasing tension along the Korean border. Seoul has stated that Pyongyang has not responded to calls for dialogue aimed at preventing potential military clashes. South Korea proposed military talks this month regarding the military demarcation line, amid reports of repeated incursions by North Korean forces.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has warned that the situation has become “extremely dangerous,” noting that North Korea has placed three layers of barbed wire along the border and cut communication lines.
