N. Korea's Kim oversees artillery firing contest on state founder's birthday

▲ This Korean Central News Agency image released on July 24, 2025, shows a firing contest among artillery sub-units of large combined units of the Korean People's Army conducted on July 23, 2025. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ This Korean Central News Agency image released on July 24, 2025, shows a firing contest among artillery sub-units of large combined units of the Korean People's Army conducted on July 23, 2025, overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L). (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

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N. Korea's Kim oversees artillery firing contest on state founder's birthday

SEOUL, April 16 (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 Kim, the North's state media reported Thursday.

"Comrade Kim Jong-un ... oversaw an artillery firing contest of artillery sub-units 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 sub-units demonstrated "militant marksmanship" and a "full war posture," with the top spot going to the Capital City Defence Corps' artillery sub-unit 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.

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