Kim Jong Un Inspects Mahap Islet Coast Defense

Kim Jong Un smiles during an artillery exercise during his inspection of Mahap Islet in a photo which appeared top center on the cover of the November 11, 2016 edition of the WPK daily organ Rodong Sinmun. Standing behind him (L-R) are: KPA General Staff Operations Bureau Director Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil, IV Army Corps Political Commissar Maj. Gen. Ri Yong Chol, IV Army Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Ri Song Guk, KPA Artillery Bureau Director Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon and Chief of the KPA General Staff VMAR Ri Myong Su (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

KJU’s last observed appearance was his visit to a sub-unit of KPA Unit #1344

DPRK state media reported on November 11 (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) inspected a coastal defense unit on Mahap Islet in the West (Yellow) Sea, off the coast of Ongjin County, South Hwanghae Province.  Also in attendance were Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department Director and State Affairs Vice Chairman VMar Hwang Pyong So, Chief of the KPA General Staff VMar Ri Myong Su, 1st Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff and Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau Colonel-General Ri Yong Gil, Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff and Director of the KPA Artillery Bureau Colonel-General Pak Jong Chon, IV Army Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Ri Song Guk and IV Army Corps Political Commissar Major-General Ri Yong Chol.

Photos which appeared on the bottom-left of the first page of the November 11, 2016 edition of Rodong Sinmun show Jong Un’s arrival to the islet and briefings and reviewing the unit’s plans and preparedness (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un is briefed about the Mahap Islet defense detachment’s planning and operations. In attendance are Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff and Director of the KPA Artillery Bureau Colonel-General Pak Cho’ng-cho’n, Chief of the KPA General Staff VMAR Ri Myo’ng-su and IV Army Corps Commander Lt. General Ri So’ng-kuk (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un discusses artillery tactics with IV Army Corps Commander Lt.Gen. Ri So’ng-kuk (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Jong Un toured the detachment’s headquarters, barracks, mess and other locales where “he had warm talks with the service personnel and paid deep attention to their living.”  He noted that “the soldiers on the forefront like those of the detachment should be stronger than anyone in their revolutionary faith” and “underlined the need to train the soldiers of the detachment as indomitable fighters steadfast in the spirit of defending the socialist country by conducting the political and ideological education among them in a unique manner.”  Jong Un “called for providing better cultural living conditions to the soldiers, establishing a strong habit of reading books and learning among them and conducting brisk activities of company art groups so that they may always spend their days of worthwhile military service full of optimism and joy with versatile knowledge and cultural attainments.”  He also underscored the “need to pay special attention to the living of the service personnel and officers’ families and direct efforts to bean farming, greenhouse farming, stockbreeding and sideline fishing so that the service personnel of the islet detachment may not long for the life on the land.”

Photos which appeared bottom-right on the first page of the November 11, 2016 edition of Rodong Sinmun show Kim Jong Un inspecting artillery and guiding an exercise (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Director of the KPA Artillery Bureau Colonel-General Pak Cho’ng-cho’n (left on the telephone) calls in orders during the artillery exercise (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Artillery piece firing during a drill from Mahap Islet (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Naval target used in artillery exercise ordered during Kim Jong Un’s field inspection of Mahap Islet (Photo: Korean Central Television).

An artillery piece participates in an anti-ship drill (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un watches the artillery exercise. Also in attendance is Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau Colonel-General Ri Yo’ng-kil (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photo with members of an artillery unit of the coastal defense unit (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un ascended an observation post and was briefed about the detachment’s artillery and planning.  He urged the “the detachment to do their bit once a fight breaks out” and issued instructions “to round off its combat preparations.”  Jong Un reportedly “issued a suprise order” and guided a live fire artillery exercise.  He “highly appreciated the results of their firing, saying with great joy that they are really good at firing as they won the master gunner prize at the artillery firing contest of islet artillery sub-unit held in last July and he might rest assured of the defense detachment on Mahap Islet.”

Kim Jong Un waves to KPA service members, officers and their families on Mahap Islet. Annotated is one of Jong Un’s close protection escorts (bodyguards) and marked [A] is the head of the suryo’ng’s security detail (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un presents a pair of binoculars to a member of the islet defense detachment. Annotated are two members of Jong Un’s bodyguard unit participating in the ceremony (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un presents a machine gun to a member of the island defense detachment. Also seen participating in the ceremony is Chief of the KPA General Staff VMAR Ri Myo’ng-su [A] (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Family members of KPA service members and officers deployed to Mahap Islet greet Kim Jong Un prior to a commemorative photo-op (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un waves to KPA service members, officers and their families while departing Mahap Islet, South Hwanghae Province. Marked are the head and members of his bodyguard unit (Photo: Korean Central Television).

KPA service members wade into the water as Kim Jong Un departs Mahap Islet (Photo: Korean Central Television).

Kim Jong Un waves to KPA service members while department Mahap Islet. Also in attendance, right is IV Army Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Ri So’ng-kuk (Photo: Korean Central Television).

He posed for a commemorative photo with members of the artillery unit.  Prior to a photo-op with members of the detachment and their family members, he handed over ceremonial binoculars, machine gun and automatic rifle.

Filed under: 2016 KPA Winter Training Cycle