North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a training base for special operations units of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) on Saturday, April 5, 2025, where he supervised general tactical training exercises and a small-arms shooting contest, according to state media reports. Accompanying the North Korean leader were senior officials including Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with other high-ranking WPK officials.
On site to greet Kim were No Kwang Chol, Minister of National Defence, Ri Yong Gil, Chief of the General Staff, and senior military commanders involved in combat training. Kim observed a range of military drills carried out by various special operations units, which were part of a broader program aimed at adapting training methods to modern warfare trends.
The exercises reportedly included the development and application of new Korean-style tactics designed to enhance the effectiveness of the DPRK’s special forces. As part of the training inspection, Kim guided and observed live-fire exercises with automatic and sniper rifles. He personally test-fired a newly developed sniper rifle intended for deployment in special operations units and expressed satisfaction with its performance, according to North Korean state media.
Physical training demonstrations were also part of the program, showcasing the physical conditioning and combat readiness of the special operations forces. During his visit, Kim emphasized the importance of intensive training in building real combat capability, stating that preparation for war is a core responsibility of the armed forces. He noted that the strengthening of special operations capabilities is a central component of North Korea’s current military strategy and outlined several tasks for further enhancing their operational readiness.
The visit concluded with a photo session with the participating officers and soldiers. State media reported that the troops expressed their loyalty and determination to fulfill their military duties. The inspection comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and increased focus by North Korea on modernizing its armed forces.
In a related development, Kim Jong Un also oversaw a special operations training drill on Friday, April 4, emphasizing “modern warfare” and “new tactics in our own style.” This drill comes amid speculation that the military is adapting strategies based on combat experience in Ukraine. According to the Rodong Sinmun, Kim visited a training site to observe tactical drills and a sniper shooting competition.
He stressed that thorough combat preparation is the “highest form of patriotism and loyalty” and said battlefield capability is built through intensive training. Kim called for unity among troops and reaffirmed that strengthening the country's special forces remains a key pillar of military development. The drills aimed to test practical tactics tailored to modern warfare and enhance real-world combat readiness.
Analysts suggest the exercises may reflect efforts to develop counter-drone tactics suited to the Korean Peninsula. South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence report that over 4,000 of the 11,000 North Korean troops allegedly sent to assist Russia were killed or injured, many by drone attacks. Foreign outlets have reported North Korean soldiers using improvised tactics, such as splitting into teams to lure and shoot down drones.
Photos released by state media showed Kim inspecting soldiers using hay and brush for camouflage and practicing hiding out in the vegetation — likely a measure against drone surveillance. While such concealment is ineffective on Ukraine’s open plains, analysts say it may be aimed at the mountainous Korean terrain. Visual camouflage may evade optical drones but not thermal imaging systems, which are widely used in Ukraine.
Cho Sang-geun, a researcher at KAIST, noted that the threat could grow depending on North Korea’s equipment. “A key question is whether their camouflage includes heat-resistant features,” Cho said. “Our forces lack widespread deployment of thermal drones at the squad level, making North Korea’s moves potentially dangerous.”
Kim's visit to the special forces coincided with significant political developments in South Korea. On the same day, South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld president Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment over his disastrous martial law declaration, booting him from office and triggering fresh elections. Yoon had defended his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule as necessary to root out “anti-state forces” and what he claimed were threats from North Korea.
In the backdrop of these events, U.S. President Donald Trump stated this week that he is in “communication” with Kim and intends to “do something at some point.” This statement adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding North Korea’s military actions and its relationship with the United States.
