Improbable SINKEX: North Korean Forces Trained in the Attack Against Simulated Aircraft Carrier

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Naval Forces News - North Korea
 
 
 
Improbable SINKEX: North Korean Forces Trained in the Attack Against "Simulated Aircraft Carrier"
 
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, released a series of pictures showing the Korean People's Army (KPA) Air Force and Navy conducting joint training under the personnal leadership of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. According to KCNA, the scenario involved the aviation and naval forces of the KPA inflicting an unexpected blow to the potential enemy aircraft carrier, simulated by a small island.

This type of maneuver (or PR stunt) likely has more propaganda benefits than real tactical training value.

The head of North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) stated that the purpose of the exercise was "the destruction of US imperialists aggressive forces carrier strike groups".
     

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, released a series of pictures showing the Korean People's Army (KPA) Air Force and Navy conducting joint training under the personnal leadership of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. According to KCNA, the scenario involved the aviation and naval forces of the KPA inflicting an unexpected blow to the potential enemy aircraft carrier, simulated by a small island.
A Korean People's Army Navy Romeo class SSK is seen launching torpedoes against a small island acting as an enemy aircraft carrier. Picture: KCNA

     
Based on the pictures, it appears that the "attack against the simulated aircraft carrier" involved MiG-23ML from the 1st Guards Air Division of the KPA Air Force as well as (at least two) Type 033 (Chinese-built soviet era Project 633) Romeo class submarines.
     
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, released a series of pictures showing the Korean People's Army (KPA) Air Force and Navy conducting joint training under the personnal leadership of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. According to KCNA, the scenario involved the aviation and naval forces of the KPA inflicting an unexpected blow to the potential enemy aircraft carrier, simulated by a small island.
Kim Jong Un, Leader and Supreme Commander of North Korea, giving his instructions to KPA Officers. Picture: KCNA
     

Full transcript of the KCNA press release.

Kim Jong Un Guides KPA Services' Drill of Hitting Enemy Naval Target

Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- A drill of services of the Korean People's Army (KPA) for hitting enemy naval target was staged at the personal initiative of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.

He visited the drill ground to guide the drill, accompanied by Hwang Pyong So, Hyon Yong Chol, Ri Yong Gil, Kim Yong Chol and Ri Pyong Chol.

He was greeted on the spot by Air Force Col. General Choe Yong Ho, commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force, Air Force Lieut. General Son Chol Ju, political commissar of the Air and Anti-Air Force, Navy Lieut. Ri Yong Ju, vice-chief of the KPA General Staff, Navy Lieut. Ho Yong Chun, political commissar of the KPA Navy, Navy Rear Admiral Jin Chol Su, head of the East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy.

The drill was conducted with main emphasis on rounding off the war method of mounting surprise air and naval attacks on the U.S. imperialists' carrier which sailed into the operation waters in the southern half to make military strikes at strategic targets of the DPRK and helping combat flying corps and submarine units get familiar with combat methods, command and coordination.

After acquainting himself with the order and methods of services to strike an islet simulating an enemy carrier, he issued an order to the guards air division and groups to make sorties.

Fighter airmen made zero feet flight and got close to the enemy carrier by boldly breaking through its dense network of anti-air defence and mounted zooming attack on it, giving the enemy no breathing spell.

Then combined submarine units made torpedo attacks in succession from ambushed waters on the enemy forces hit hard by air strikes.

Underscoring the need to intensify KPA services' maneuvers of striking carrier task group of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces, he said if the KPA steadily studies and rounds off the war methods of mercilessly striking the enemy's backbone by the guerrillas-style combat method, well aware of his weak points, it is quite possible to send even a carrier to the bottom of the sea. He gave important instructions for bolstering up the operation capabilities of the units of all services.

The enemies boast of their latest military science and technology but one cannot give precedence to scientific and technological estimation only when making comparison between the military capabilities of the warring parties, and the fight with the enemies is not only the confrontation between arms and equipment and physical strength but the confrontation of mental power and ideology of people, he said, emphasizing our just and great war for national reunification based on the warm love and absolute trust in our own things is sure to triumph.

Calling upon our generation to force the U.S. to write once again another disgraceful page in the history of its navy, he underscored the need to make the U.S. imperialists experience on their land the dreadful horror, shudder and bitter defeat they have never done in the war with the DPRK.

He solemnly declared that we have no willingness to sit any longer with the rabid dogs openly barking that they will bring down by the method of bringing about "changes" the socialist system, the cradle which our people consider dearer than their own lives, slandering the ideology and social system chosen by them as "totalitarian" and the like. He said with confidence that the DPRK is ready to react to any form of war, operation and battle to be wanted and chosen by the U.S. imperialists and fully ready to counter any war including a war by conventional armed forces and a nuclear war.

     

Two Korean People's Army Navy Romeo class SSKs
     
     
     

Torpedoes hitting the island simulating an enemy aircraft carrier
     
     
     

Two KPA Air Force MiG-23ML flying at low level above a KPA Navy submarine during the exercise
     

The two fighter aircraft hit the simulated enemy aircraft carrier
     
     
     

All Pictures: KCNA