PYONGYANG, February 8 (Itar-Tass) - Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), supreme leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea, state and army of the DPRK Kim Jong Un visited two military units within the framework of inspection trips around the country. He was accompanied by Chief of the General Staff of the KPA Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun and a group of generals.
On Wednesday the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un, whom the soldiers and officers gave “a rapturous welcome,” stressed the need to raise combat readiness of the North Korean armed forces, watched military exercises, including staff ones.
According to him, the People’s Army ensures reliable protection of the socialist DPRK, “guaranteeing the country’s prosperity and a happy future for its people.” Kim Jong Un set new tasks to the military, urging them to “keep an eye out for all the aggressive schemes of enemies near the borders of the country in order to make a merciless retaliatory counter strike, if necessary.”
After mourning events over the death of Kim Jong Il last December, his youngest son who took office as the supreme commander, began to regularly check combat readiness of units of the Ground Forces, Navy and the Air Force. He made his first trip this year to the 105th Tank Division, which was repeatedly visited by his father.
This week, Kim Jong Un visited several units of the country’s Navy. He boarded a torpedo boat, from where he watched naval tactical manoeuvres and praised the Navy men who “displayed patriotism and heroism.”