Kim Jong Un Inspects Ung Islet Defense Detachment

DPRK state media reported on 7 July (Monday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) inspected Ung Islet Defense Detachment, located off the coast of South Hamgyo’ng Province. Attending the inspection with him were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department) and Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon (Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff and Director of the KPA Firepower Commanding Department). KJU’s last observed appearance was his visit to the Songdowon International Children’s Camp.

After being greeted by command staff, KJU’s first stop during his inspection was at a monument commemorating a field inspection by his grandfather, late DPRK founder and president Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng). KJU “recollected with deep emotion the undying exploits performed by the President and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) for the development of the defense detachment” and noted that “Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il worked heart and soul for the development of the KPA.” KJU also underscored “the need for the service personnel of the detachment to turn the Ung Islet into an impregnable fortress and thus glorify for all ages the feats performed by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in commanding the army.” He watched an artillery exercise and was “greatly satisfied to see them accurately hit the target,” according to KCNA, and “was very pleased to meet the crack shots.”

Kim Jong Un instructed a “crack shot” certificate (and inevitably, a plaque) be award to the artillery piece involved in the exercise and presented “crack shot” medals and badges to the members of the islet defense detachment, 1st platoon of its 1st company. Then he posed for commemorative photos with the KPA Personnel. KJU also watched a heavy gymnastics exhibition. According to KCNA, he “set forth important tasks which would serve as guidelines for rounding off the combat capability of the detachment” and said that “the commanding officers of the detachment should prepare themselves as commanding officers and political cadres of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il style and intensify the political and ideological education among the service personnel to train them as revolutionaries and patriots strong in idea and faith and possessed of versatile knowledge and high cultural attainments.” KJU also “stressed the need for the detachment to always direct efforts to the anti-U.S. education and class education, regardless of conditions and circumstances, so that the service personnel may make training part of their life and habit with burning hatred towards the enemies” and “gave an instruction to the detachment to turn it into one of crack shots so that it may send the enemies intruding into the waters of the DPRK to the bottom of the sea to the last man once a battle kicks off and thus not allow them to set foot even an inch of its inviolable land.”

Kim Jong Un then toured the barracks, quarters, bathing facilities, mess and supply stores “to take deep care of the living of their service personnel as their real father would do.” He was also briefed about supply service to the islet defense detachment and the education of the children of officers and service members stationed on the islet. He “stressed the need to pay particular attention to the living of the service personnel there and their families” and “showed deep loving care for the defense detachment.” KJU ended his inspection by attending a commemorative photo-op with the defense detachment’s personnel and members of their families.