Kim Jong Un Inspects Islet Defence Detachment in Western Sector of Front

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, inspected the defence detachment on Mahap Islet in the western sector of the front.

Going round the headquarters of the detachment, barracks, education rooms and mess halls of various companies, he had warm talks with their service personnel and paid deep attention to their living.

Noting that the soldiers on forefront like those of the detachment should be stronger than anyone in their revolutionary faith, he underlined the need to train the soldiers of the detachment as indomitable fighters steadfast in the spirit of defending the socialist country by conducting the political and ideological education among them in a unique manner.

He called for providing better cultural living conditions to the soldiers, establishing a strong habit of reading books and learning among them and conducting brisk activities of company art groups so that they may always spend their days of worthwhile military service full of optimism and joy with versatile knowledge and cultural attainments.

Learning in detail about the supply service to the soldiers and the education of the children of officers' families, he underlined the need to pay special attention to the living of the service personnel and officers' families and direct efforts to bean farming, greenhouse farming, stockbreeding and sideline fishing so that the service personnel of the islet detachment may not long for the life on the land.

He mounted an observation post where he learned in detail about the deployment of artillery pieces and combat readiness after being briefed on the firepower strike plan of the detachment.

Urging the service personnel of the detachment to do their bit once a fight breaks out, he gave precious instructions to round off its combat preparations.

He issued a surprise order to artillery piece No. 3 of the second platoon of the first company of the detachment to go into action from its position and strike the designated target and guided a live shell firing drill.

Having promptly finished their preparations to open fire, the artillerymen accurately hit the naval target as ordered by him.

He highly appreciated the results of their firing, saying with great joy that they are really good at firing as they won the master gunner prize at the artillery firing contest of islet artillery sub-units held in last July and he might rest assured of the defence detachment on Mahap Islet. He had a photo taken with them.

He gave the soldiers a pair of binoculars, an automatic rifle and a machine gun as gifts and had a photo session with all service personnel and officers' families of the defence detachment.

Accompanying him were Vice-Marshal of the KPA Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, Vice-Marshal of the KPA Ri Myong Su, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, Army Col. General Ri Yong Gil, first vice-chief of the KPA General Staff and director of the General Operation Bureau, Army Major General Pak Jong Chon, director of the Artillery Bureau of the KPA, Army Lieut. General Ri Song Guk, commander of the 4th Corps of the KPA, and Army Major General Ri Yong Chol, political commissar of the corps.