Kim Jong Un`s sister joins military training inspection

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended and inspected an artillery firing drill by a female rocket launching squad under Military Unit 851 in the company of his younger sister Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the North Korean Workers’ Party. It is the first time that Kim Yo Jong publicly accompanied her brother Kim Jong Un in an inspection visit to a military drill.

In a photo carried by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Tuesday, Kim Jong Un appeared to hold friendly chats with top military brass including Hwang Pyong So, head of the military’s general politburo, and observing the drill. The North’s Korean Central TV Station also aired footage of his sister Kim Yo Jong taking a look from a distance. Unit 851 is reportedly the Army Seventh Division in Gangwon Province, and a squad refers to a unit under the battalion level. Kim Jong Un observed an artillery drill by a female rocket launching unit in the area in April as well.

Watching the drill, Kim Jong Un gave words of encouragement, saying, “Female rocket gunners do a wonderful job in firing artillery guns,” adding, "It is important to organize and guide drills of military units at an intensive level by providing an unanticipated situation at an unexpected time in an unusual format and method.” Also accompanying Kim in the inspection visit to the drill were Choe Ryong Hae, secretary of the Workers’ Party, and Hwang Pyong So, as well as Kim Yo Jong.

Meanwhile, a photo on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun showed Choe Yong Ho, commander of the air and anti-air forces, wearing the insignia of marshal (three-star rank). Choe was seen wearing the insignia of vice marshal (two-star rank) up until early this month when Kim Jong Un was inspecting Air Force Unit 458. Choe is believed to have been promoted since he was named the commander of the air and anti-air forces.