North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the readiness of special military operations units and provided instructions for their development, as reported by North Korean media on Sunday.
Kim’s visit took place at the headquarters of the 11th Corps of the Korean People’s Army, where he observed a training session and expressed his satisfaction with the units’ impeccable wartime readiness.
The 11th Corps is regarded as the most elite special forces unit in the North Korean military. It was deployed to Russia late last year to assist in the conflict with Ukraine and has gained experience in modern warfare, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
This inspection coincided with a summit held by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC economic summit in Jeongju, southeast of Seoul.
Prior to the summit, the South Korean presidential office indicated that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be a topic of discussion with Xi. However, outcomes revealed after the summit did not mention this issue.
During a tour at the Unity Museum, Kim emphasized the ruling party’s commitment to transforming the entire military into a strong and heroic force, akin to units that achieve victory in all battles.
The reports indicated that Kim received a briefing on the operational plans for the unit and outlined key strategic policies and tasks for enhancing special operations forces.
Kim also underscored the need for military organizational and structural actions to strengthen the unit, adding that the Central Military Commission of War will comprehensively review the matter.
He observed the unit’s training and expressed complete satisfaction with their wartime readiness, stating that the military is fully prepared to defend the nation’s sovereignty and developmental rights, as well as to reliably safeguard the fate and future of the people.
On Saturday, North Korea criticized the South Korean presidential office’s announcement that denuclearization was on the agenda for the Korea-China summit, labeling it as an unattainable dream.