Kim Jong Un Shows Off New Tank in South Korea Attack Drill, Rides with Daughter Kim Ju Ae

[The Financial News] President of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un visited a training site for an attack drill against South Korea that mobilized a new main battle tank equipped with an active protection system, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae.
An active protection system detects and destroys incoming anti-tank missiles and rockets aimed at a tank. Its importance has grown in the war in Ukraine, where anti-tank missiles and man-portable rockets such as the FGM-148 Javelin have neutralized Russian tanks.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 20th that Kim visited Pyongyang Training Base No. 60 under the Pyongyang Defense Command of the Korean People's Army (KPA) the previous day and observed a combined attack tactics exercise by infantry and tank units. KCNA stated that Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army Kim Sung-gi, Minister of National Defence No Kwang-chol, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Ri Yong-gil, and Party First Vice Director Kim Jong Sik took part in conducting the drill. Kim Jong Un also showcased himself riding a tank with his daughter Kim Ju Ae.
KCNA reported, "Various tests were conducted to inspect the active protection system of the new main battle tank," adding that anti-tank missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles attacking from different lines and directions were intercepted with a "100% hit rate," demonstrating the effectiveness of the active protection system. The system uses small radars and thermal sensors mounted around the tank to detect incoming missiles and rockets, and fires interceptor munitions nearby to destroy them.
Kim said he placed particular emphasis on improving survivability in the development of the new tank. He also noted that it is equipped with a mobile, integrated protection system capable of reliably destroying anti-tank guided missiles, drones, and other threats with high precision.
He went on to say, "I am convinced that there is no armored weapon system in the world with self-defense capabilities as strong as this tank," adding, "It is a great transformation that we have been able to completely overcome the combat limitations of our armored forces, which had been weak in night operations."
He further stated, "From now on, these superior new tanks will be deployed on a large scale in our army, and our armored forces will advance to a higher stage."
He stressed that the tank's performance must be continuously improved in line with the ever-evolving trends of modern warfare, urging, "All levels of our military must maintain their heightened morale without the slightest slackening and continue to raise it to an extraordinary level, leading to a leap forward in achieving full war preparedness."
North Korea unveiled its new Chonma-20 main battle tank at a military parade last October. The parade marked the first appearance of the official designation "Chonma-20" formation and footage suggesting the tank had been deployed to operational units.
North Korea also deployed unmanned aerial vehicles in a tactical exercise aimed at striking and seizing the enemy's anti-armor defensive lines. Once the exercise began, various unmanned attack drones struck enemy command posts and anti-armor fire positions based on real-time reconnaissance data, KCNA reported. rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo


rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter