Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised combined tactical drills of special operations forces, emphasizing that the most "crucial" task for the North's armed forces is to make full preparations for war, state media reported Wednesday. The drills, which included joint fire strike demonstrations by special operations and tank subunits, took place the previous day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jong-un underscored the importance of the anti-imperialist class front, suggesting that this justification supports North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia for Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine. He stated that the combat drills are designed to "turn the whole army into elite ranks," reflecting the regime's military ambitions.
Photos released by state media depicted North Korean troops in camouflage suits operating drones. South Korea's spy agency had previously indicated that North Korean troops were in Russia, learning drone operations and tactics from Moscow. The North's involvement in the conflict marks a significant development in its foreign military engagements.
Last month, North Korea publicly acknowledged for the first time its decision to send troops to Russia to combat Ukrainian forces. During a recent visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, Kim described the North's participation in the war as "justifiable," framing it as an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defense treaty with Moscow.