By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Supreme Leader of North Korea on Friday paid a visit to the military training base of the special operation units of the Korean People’s Army where he conducted the test-run of a sniper rifle, to be newly supplied to special operation units, state media reported on Saturday.
Kim Jong Un also learned about the capacity of the rifle produced by North Korea technology, expressing satisfaction with its performance and power.
Kim also mounted the observation post to watch the general tactical training and small-arms shooting contest conducted by combatants of various special operation units under the training program, a report by KCNA state news agency said.
Kim said that strengthening special operations forces is a key part of the current military strategy, reeling out series of major tasks aimed at enhancing their operational capabilities, but KCNA did not provide details.
“Strengthening of the special operation forces constitutes a major component of the army-building strategy at present.”
South Korea has alleged that North Korean special operations units are among the thousands of troops that Pyongyang has deployed to Russia to fight in the Ukraine war, an allegation it has denied.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly alleged that North Korea is backing Russia in its over three-year war in Kyiv.
Moscow and Pyongyang initially dismissed reports of the deployment, but in October 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny that North Korean troops were in Russia, and a North Korean official has said any such move would be lawful.
