On Apr. 15, Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who watched an artillery firing contest to mark the birthday of President Kim Il Sung, called for spurring combat readiness.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 16th that the Chairperson watched an artillery units' firing contest under the West Sea District large combined unit of the Korean People's Army.
The Chairperson said, "The active use of artillery force is the most important factor in determining victory or defeat in operations and battles, and further, in war," and added, "Going forward, we must uphold the party's policy of emphasizing and strengthening artillery and further spur preparations for artillery combat."
He also ordered the thorough implementation of the "strategic plan of the party center" for the modernization of artillery forces within the period of the new five-year defense development plan presented at the party congress in Feb.
In this artillery firing contest, the artillery unit under the Capital Defense Corps took first place. Second place went to the 4th Corps in Haeju, Hwanghae Province.
The agency said the Chairperson noted, "This contest served as an important opportunity to strengthen the combat power of the artillery," and "emphasized that the active use of artillery force is the most important factor in determining victory or defeat in operations and battles, and further, in war."
It is somewhat unusual for North Korea to hold a training contest mobilizing the military on President Kim Il Sung's birthday. It appears to show the Chairperson's military-first line.
The Chairperson also expressed considerable satisfaction with the holding of this firing contest.
The Chairperson emphasized, "It is good for units at all levels of the military to frequently organize training contests on major occasions, including national holidays like today."
By contrast, the Chairperson appears not to have paid his respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on President Kim Il Sung's birthday this year either. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is where the president's body lies in state.
The Chairperson has clearly reduced the frequency of visits to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on recent North Korean anniversaries. Analysts say this is aimed at elevating his own independent stature while reducing the intensity of idolizing his predecessors.