Kim Jong Un Oversees Huge Gathering Of His Country's Antiquated Air Combat Force [4/4] - kim pilots.png (1/1)

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As the prospects of an ongoing dialogue with the U.S. over its ever-growing
nuclear and missile programs continue to decline, Kim Jong Un visited North
Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma International Airport to oversee what appears to be an
unprecedented, at least in recent years, gathering of North Korean air power.
Satellite images from November 11th showed a very large number of aircraft at
the airfield, which pointed to some sort of high-profile event being imminent.


38North.org, which closely tracks activities in the Hermit Kingdom, reported the
following on November 14th:

On imagery from November 11, there were four MiG-17 fighter aircraft, six MiG-15
fighter aircraft, fourteen Su-25 close support aircraft, six MiG-29 fighter
aircraft and six Il-28 bomber aircraft observed on the tarmac north of the
passenger terminal. On November 13, additional MiG-15 and MiG-17 were added to
the display bringing their total to eleven MiG-15s and eight MiG-17s. Several
small vehicles were parked on the tarmac near the MiG-29 and Il-28 aircraft. In
addition, thirteen probable MiG-21 fighter aircraft were observed on the alert
apron at the south end of the airfield, and six small, either Hughes 500 or Mi-2
Hoplite light helicopters, six medium, possibly Mi-8 or Mi-14, medium transport
helicopters, and eight An-2 Colt light transport aircraft were parked along the
auxiliary runway located on the southwest side of the airfield. Further to the
south of the auxiliary runway at the rail transfer point, seven additional
MiG-21 were parked on an adjacent apron. It could not be determined whether
these aircraft are newly arrived, perhaps by rail, or whether they have been
moved there for temporary storage.

An official state media press release following the event—translated into
English—and posted by KCNAwatch.com states:

Pyongyang, November 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of
Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, watched
"the combat flight contest-2019 of the flight commanding officers of the Air and
Anti-Aircraft Force of the Korean People's Army."

When Supreme Leader of the Party, state and armed forces Kim Jong Un came to
Wonsan Kalma Airport, the venue, all the participants and the spectators broke
into thunderous cheers of "hurrah!"

The commander of the Air and Anti-Aircraft Force of the KPA made an opening
speech.

The contest, being divided into division commander group, pursuit plane regiment
commander group and light plane regiment commander group, were held by way of
letting all the aircrafts equipped with maximum armament conduct bombing flight
and firing flight under the command of the formation flight by the flight
commanding officers.

The flight commanding officers and the combat pilots fully demonstrated the
invincible might of Kim Jong Un's flying corps by displaying the aviation they
have trained during the ordinary days.

Whenever the flight commanding officers and the combat pilots showed admirable
aviation with brave and flexible art of control, the Supreme Leader warmly
acknowledged them, giving encouragement.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the flight commanding
officers and combat pilots took an active part in the contest and held
enthusiastic contest, showing high aviation.

Our pilots have to try to fight the enemies armed to the teeth with great idea
and tactics under any circumstances, the Supreme Leader said, adding that the
result of the fight is not decided by the combat specification of arms and
equipment but by for what and with what idea the fight is fought. He stressed
that however loudly the enemies may brag about their technological advantages,
they can never overwhelm the politico-ideological and combat and moral
advantages of our service personnel.

The Supreme Leader underscored the need for all the pilots to get fully versed
in the Juche-based air tactics and be fully ready for effectively applying them
to operations and battles, adding that it is important for all the pilots to
possess high level of aviation, bombing skill and marksmanship by systematically
conducting flight drills on a normal basis under the simulated conditions of an
actual war in the severest condition.

He indicated the orientation as regards the development of the air force
weaponry of our own style to contain the armed forces of the enemy boasting of
the technical advantages of their aircrafts, giving vital instructions in
developing the Juche-based air force.

He congratulated the flight commanding officers who took part in the contest on
their successes and had a photo session with them.

Among the spectators were leading officials of the Central Committee of the
Workers' Party of Korea.


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Photos from the event are limited, with most showing Kim going about his visit
as we have seen time and again, with arrival, commanding shots behind a desk,
and photos with the rank and file. But one photo does show the rickety VIP
configured IL-62M, "Kim Force One," doing a flyby flanked by no less than six
MiG-29 Fulcrums. That is the most of the type, which are largely relegated to
guarding Pyongyang, I have seen in the air together in many years. Three more
MiG-29s are sitting on the ground in the image, as well. It is thought that
North Korea has around 35 MiG-29s, which were acquired in the 1990s, although
how many are airworthy at any given time is certainly just a fraction of that
number.

Regardless of any "juche-based tactics," the North Korean Air Force stands zero
chance at surviving even a very short period of time against a modern air combat
force, like that of the U.S. or South Korea. In fact, it's most lowly and
diminutive types pose more of an actual threat to South Korea than its fighters
and attack jets. Kim isn't delusional regarding this, but North Korea's air
force acts as a powerful propaganda tool and events like this are more about
projecting a measure of power and keeping the military itself satisfied than
about honing relevant combat skills.

North Korea's weak and antiquated air arm is another reason why Kim's investment
in the country's nuclear program has been so extreme. As North Korea's
conventional capabilities continue to atrophy, its nuclear one becomes all that
much more critical.

Just as North Korea's own air exercises were wrapping up, one of Kim's top
cronies and the man who had led talks with the U.S., Kim Yong Chol, warned that
there would be "shocking punishment" if the U.S. proceeds as planned with its
own upcoming wargames with South Korea. The hypocrisy of such an assertion would
only be true if the North's recent air excercise was anything but a token drill
that served more as a propaganda setpiece and for the personal enjoyment of the
"Young General" than anything else.




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