‘Kim Jong Il Ordered Naval Modernization After Battle’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is known to have ordered the modernization of his navy after the North lost an inter-Korean battle near Daecheong Island in November last year.

The North’s Korean Central TV aired Wednesday the program “Television Commemorative Stage” to mark the 78th anniversary of the (North) Korean People’s Army featuring commanders, officers and soldiers.

Kim Kwang Il, an officer from the North’s West Sea Naval Command, said on the program, “Our supreme commander (Kim Jong Il) visited our unit and docked vessel at dawn, and instructed us to modernize our weapons and military equipment to meet the needs of modern warfare.”

Afterwards, Kim Jong Il is said to have boarded another naval ship and watched a drill. He said, “Comrades, do you know why I come to this unit so often? This is because as supreme commander, I have such strong confidence in this unit. I urge you to reinforce your drills from now on and prepare to become heroes as naval ‘dead band’ members.”

Kim Kwang Il added, “We crushed a fleet of six South Korean naval vessels that wanted to preserve the Northern Limit Line late last year,” claiming that the North Korean navy won the Nov. 10 Daecheong battle.

On Nov. 27 last year, or 17 days after the battle, the (North) Korean Central News Agency said Kim Jong Il inspected the headquarters of the North’s No. 587 naval unit stationed in the port city of Nampo.

kyle@donga.com