The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 14th that Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea, directed the “Korean People’s Army Tank Soldier Joint Unit Competition” on the 13th.
Kim could not hide his satisfaction at this training game, saying, “The new main tank, which revealed its appearance by showing its amazing combat performance for the first time, excellently demonstrated its superior firepower and mobility,” and “It is very proud that our army is equipped with the most powerful tank in the world,” the agency reported.
Moreover, Kim showed great interest in the M-2020 (tentatively named) new tank, which was first unveiled and personally operated. This tank was first unveiled at the 75th anniversary parade of the founding of the Workers’ Party in October 2020, and it is expected that the practical deployment has been completed. It will replace the existing main Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho (M-2002).
This training seemed to be in response to the “Freedom Shield” exercise, a joint US-Korea training exercise that ended on the day. The Pokpung-ho tank and the MD-500E light helicopter smuggled from Germany in 1983 also participated.
The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North Korean Workers’ Party, reported on the 14th that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, inspected a local tank unit.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the tank unit’s competition involved tank crew members selected from each unit. The purpose was to scrutinize the tank soldiers’ actual combat capabilities strictly and familiarize them with combat actions and various tactical tasks.
Those attending Chairman Kim’s training game included Pak Jong Chon, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party. Kang Soon Nam, Minister of National Defense, Ri Yong Gil, Chief of General Staff of the People’s Army, and the Deputy Minister in charge of equipment at the Ministry of National Defense, the Director of the Tank Department of the General Staff of the People’s Army, and the Commander of the Combined Forces of the People’s Army Tank Forces.
The appearance of the counter-training game of the M-2020, Pokpung-ho tank, and the US-made MD-500E helicopter, which were introduced to disrupt the South Korean military
North Korea’s new M-2020 tank (tentatively named)
The M-2020 new tank with a three-color camouflage paint pattern that appeared in the North Korean parade in April 2022
The new M-2020 tank and the Pokpung-ho tank in joint counter-training
A large-scale fire-breathing Pokpung-ho tank in the middle of shooting
The M-2020 North Korean tank in the middle of shooting
In this joint US-Korea training FS response, North Korea showed superior firepower and quick mobility by leading new tanks and mobile helicopters.
Kim Jong Un staged a scene of personally driving a new tank on the 13th. It’s a countermeasure against the US-Korea joint training “Freedom Shield” (FS) that started on the 4th. In particular, it is interpreted to show that Kim Jong Un has completed “war preparations” by driving a new tank and boosting the troops assigned to attack Seoul and Gyeonggi, including the capital area.
Kim Jong Un hops in and drives the new M-2020 tank after reviewing the tank crew
The new M-2020 tank is equipped with a Bulsae series anti-tank missile launcher on the side of the turret.
The M-2020 new tank equipped with reactive armor on the side of the hull and turret at the North Korean parade in July 2023
The “Seoul 105th Guards Ryu Kyeong-Su Armored Division” won in this training game. This unit is assigned to attack targets in Seoul and Gyeonggi. Chairman Kim said, “The Seoul 105th Guards Ryu Kyeong-Su Armored Division has a proud history of occupying the enemy’s capital and is a traditional unit,” and “I am most pleased that the indomitable spirit and heroic spirit of the tank soldiers of previous days are still high in the new generation tank soldiers.”
Kim Jong Un and the tank soldiers of the Seoul 105th Guards Ryu Kyeong-Su Armored Division that won an overwhelming victory in the counter-training game, taking a commemorative photo
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