North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a military demonstration featuring a new battle tank.
The new tank from North Korea. Image credit: KCNA
This event marked another display of strength from the isolated nation as South Korea and the United States concluded joint drills. The news was reported by the state media KCNA on Thursday that
According to KCNA, Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the tank’s performance during its debut display on Wednesday, highlighting its striking power. Technical details about the new tank have not been disclosed.
The event, described as a “training match,” aimed to assess the combat capabilities of tank crews and familiarize them with various tactical missions. The report detailed such statements as how the heavy tanks swiftly maneuvered through challenging combat scenarios, delivering powerful strikes and breaching strong defense lines with ease.
In a photograph released by KCNA, the leader of the secluded state was seen with his head peeking out of a tank, reportedly driving the tank himself.
The mock battle took place as the joint annual drills between South Korea and the U.S., known as the Freedom Shield exercises, were scheduled to conclude on Thursday. These drills, the first since Pyongyang annulled a 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at reducing tensions in November, involved a joint live-fire exercise conducted at a training base in the city of Pocheon over the past week, as stated by South Korea’s army.
The live-fire drill featured tanks, armored vehicles, and FA-50 fighter jets, according to a statement from the army. North Korea has consistently condemned such military exercises as rehearsals for war, while Seoul has consistently portrayed them as purely defensive.
Written by Vytautas Valinskas