Seoul,— North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has placed his country’s special operations forces in the spotlight, reaffirming their critical role in his military strategy during a high-profile visit to a tactical base. According to state media, Kim oversaw combat drills and a shooting competition involving elite troops, hailing their performance and describing them as “central” to the Korean People’s Army’s combat readiness and future operations.
During the visit, Kim personally test-fired a newly developed North Korean-made sniper rifle, reportedly praising its precision and reliability. The visit comes amid heightened scrutiny of North Korea’s military activities, particularly in the context of its alleged support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence claims that North Korean special forces have been among the troops deployed to assist Russian operations on the battlefield — an assertion that Moscow has not publicly denied.
While Pyongyang has not commented on the Ukraine deployment claims, the increasing visibility of its elite units aligns with Kim’s broader push to modernize and assert the capabilities of his armed forces on the global stage.
Key Points:
- Kim visits special forces base: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a special operations unit to oversee tactical drills and a shooting competition.
- Elite forces called ‘central’: Kim described the elite troops as a core part of North Korea’s military strategy, emphasizing their key role in combat readiness.
- Sniper rifle test-fired: Kim personally tested a new domestically produced sniper rifle during the visit and praised its performance.
- Alleged Ukraine deployment: South Korea claims that North Korean special forces have been deployed to support Russian military operations in Ukraine — a claim Russian President Vladimir Putin has not denied.
- Military modernization drive: The visit reflects Kim’s broader push to strengthen and modernize North Korea’s military capabilities.
