[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] Simultaneous Artillery Firing Drills in Forward Areas

In Response to North Korea's Threat of Military Clash

The Army conducted artillery firing training in the frontline areas. This is analyzed as a direct response to North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's heightened threat of military conflict.

According to the Army on the 2nd, the training was conducted in frontline areas such as Hwacheon in Gangwon Province and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. Equipment deployed included the K9A1 and K9 self-propelled howitzers, which are core to counter-fire operations, K2 and K1A2 tanks and K21 armored vehicles assigned to mechanized units, as well as K600 obstacle-clearing tanks and helicopters. Participating units included the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, 2nd Rapid Response Division, 6th, 7th, 12th, 15th, and 22nd Infantry Divisions, 8th and 11th Maneuver Divisions, 2nd Armored Brigade, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th Artillery Brigades, and the 12th and 17th Aviation Groups. Essentially, all frontline units on both the eastern and western fronts participated.

The training began at each unit's training ground, assuming various scenarios such as enemy artillery shells falling on our territory as a firepower provocation. When enemy fire provocations were identified by friendly counter-battery radar and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the artillery firepower conducted strong counter-fire against the enemy provocation origin points, command posts, and support forces, according to the Army's explanation. Additionally, each unit conducted training to neutralize the enemy and secure targets through tactical assembly point occupation, obstacle area clearing and overcoming, Army aviation air cover, rapid helicopter rope insertion to secure key points, and swift maneuvering and firing by mechanized units.

Earlier, Chairman Kim emphasized at the final day (day 5) of the Workers' Party year-end plenary meeting held on the 30th of last month that "we must continue to accelerate preparations for a major event to conquer the entire territory of South Korea," and on the following day, the 31st, he openly threatened military action by convening key commanders of the North Korean military, treating inter-Korean military conflict as a foregone conclusion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.