North Korea released a video of special forces troops performing martial arts and breaking demonstrations reminiscent of a strength show.
Korean Central Television on the afternoon of the 29th released footage of special forces training and said, "Special operations units of large combined units at all levels competitively demonstrated, without reserve, their marksmanship that never misses and their military-technical and physical abilities." The video included scenes of demonstrations conducted by the fighters in front of Kim Jong-un.
Central Television devoted significant coverage to various forms of breaking demonstrations. In the footage, fighters appeared bare-chested without any protective gear, deflecting pickaxes or axes with their abdominal muscles.
They also lay face down with bare hands on nails while a heavy stone slab placed on their backs was smashed with a hammer. Unrealistic scenes continued, such as breaking roof tiles by striking a forearm laid on them with an axe and grabbing a blade with bare hands.
In addition to demonstrations that simply flaunted physical ability, there were also shooting demonstrations conducted by fighters wearing night-vision goggles and a dagger martial arts demonstration by a women's unit.
In response, Kim Jong-un showed satisfaction, clapping and smiling brightly.
Central Television reported that Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction with the absolute prestige and unparalleled bravery" and emphasized that "one must deeply realize the iron rule that sweating more in training in peacetime means bleeding less in battle."
The training report that day is seen as intended to showcase the military's loyalty to Kim Jong-un at home and abroad. It is interpreted as an attempt to display military confidence and strengthen regime cohesion.
Kim Jong-un observed the training with Defense Minister No Kwang-chol and Korean People's Army Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong-gil, among others. Although not mentioned directly in the report, Kim Jong-un's sister, Workers' Party Organization and Guidance Department Director Kim Yo-jong, also appeared on screen.