North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gifted Air and Anti-Air Force fighter pilots with leather longcoats to mark the founding anniversary of the North Korean military on Feb. 8.
According to a Daily NK source in North Korea on Thursday, fighter pilots from Unit 1016 of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) were presented with leather longcoats in a ceremony on Feb. 5. Given the fact that Unit 1016 was the site of an on-the-spot visit by Kim, high-ranking cadres of the General Staff Department and the General Political Bureau also attended the ceremony.
At this ceremony, however, only fighter pilots with certain ranks were provided with longcoats, while commanders and ordinary co-pilots were not.
Longcoats became well-known in North Korea in January last year at the parade commemorating the Eighth Party Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. At the time, Kim Jong Un, his sister Kim Yo Jong, Central Committee Secretary Jo Yong Won, and Party Vice Director Hyon Song Wol all appeared side-by-side wearing black longcoats.
This incident was so high-profile that it brought about the term “leather coat trio.” The longcoat attracted public attention once more when a photograph was published last month of North Korean Premier Kim Tok Hun wearing similar clothing during an on-the-spot inspection.
It is highly significant that fighter pilots were gifted with longcoats, given that the attire has come to represent “closeness” to the seat of power in North Korea. Indeed, the country seems to be raising the political prestige of pilots in an attempt to strengthen the weak combat capability of the air force.
According to the source, there was much controversy around “discriminatory gifting” because the list of gift recipients excluded pilots of helicopters and transport aircraft.
“They risk their lives during combat just like everyone else,” the source said, adding,“The pilots that were excluded from receiving leather longcoats as gifts are suffering from lowered morale.”
Meanwhile, on Mar. 9, 2015, Rodong Sinmun reported that leader Kim Jong Un inspected Unit 1016 of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force honored with the title of O Jung Hup-led 7th Regiment.
At the time, Kim handed out cosmetics and food to the wives of pilots.
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