North Korea's Kim oversees artillery firing contest on state founder's birthday
Published: 16 Apr. 2026, 09:04
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, poses for a photo with soldiers after overseeing an artillery firing contest of artillery subunits under the large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western area on April 15, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the following day. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/16/6bdbe332-26bb-453c-b266-1fbe027f09d7.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, poses for a photo with soldiers after overseeing an artillery firing contest of artillery subunits under the large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western area on April 15, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the following day. [YONHAP]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen an artillery firing contest on the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, grandfather of the current leader, the North's state media reported Thursday.
Comrade Kim Jong-un [...] oversaw an artillery firing contest of artillery subunits under the large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western area organized on April 15, the Day of the Sun," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Participating subunits demonstrated "militant marksmanship" and a "full war posture," with the top spot going to the Capital City Defence Corps' artillery subunit, followed by the KPA's 4th Corps, the KCNA said.
Kim expressed satisfaction with the firing contest held on the "greatest auspicious" national holiday, calling it "an important occasion" to boost artillery training enthusiasm and strengthen combat capability.
He called the utilization of artillery forces "the most important factor deciding the victory in operation and battle and furthermore in war," urging the KPA to enhance artillery combat readiness and thoroughly implement modernization of artillery forces under a new five-year defense development plan.
“The KPA should be engrossed only in the training for rounding off the combat preparations," Kim also said, adding that "it is precisely the way for realizing the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung's desire for building a powerful army."
North Korea observes the founder's birthday, known as the Day of the Sun, as one of the country's most important national holidays.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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