North Korea recently granted a special leave to the officers and enlisted personnel of the so-called “Red Banner Company,” which took part in the launch of the Hwasong-17.
Pyongyang has been widely promoting the successful test launch of its newest ICBM.
KCNA and other North Korean media outlets made first mention of the Red Banner Company on Mar. 25 as they gave detailed accounts of the launch on the previous day.
According to a high-ranking Daily NK source in the North Korean military, North Korea’s Supreme Command ordered the headquarters of the Strategic Rocket Force to send the combat personnel who took part in the launch of the Hwasong-17 on special leave to Majon Resort in South Hamgyong Province, accompanied by their families.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Command directly commended the combat personnel. This suggests that they play a significant role in the launch.
The “Red Banner Company” mentioned here should not be confused with the “Red Banner Company Movement,” a communist innovation movement. It is a living, breathing company operating under the command of the Strategic Rocket Force, the arm of the Korean People’s Army that operates the country’s ballistic missiles.
In particular, the unit has reportedly been tasked with organizing test launches in peacetime and launching ballistic missiles in wartime, including ICBMs at the mainland of the US.
In issuing the commendation, the Supreme Command praised the unit’s combat personnel for contributing to “raising the dignity and honor of the Fatherland to the very end of the globe” and to “strengthening the country’s new nuclear arsenal that can hit the U.S. mainland.”
A 15-day leave is quite extraordinary, too. The source said the unit has been tasked with test launches since the test of North Korea’s hypersonic glide vehicle. He said it has won praise for all the tests it has taken part in over the last three months, rising in prominence as a result.
The Supreme Command also ordered the Strategic Rocket Force command to fill in the duty vacuum while the unit is on leave. In this, the military authorities paid the combat personnel the highest consideration to put their minds at ease while they are on leave.
The Supreme Command also arranged for the combat personnel to go on leave with their families. This basically amounts to another example of Kim Jong Un-style “gift politics” that “takes good care of loyal elements.”
The source said the authorities have set aside a wing of the VIP building of the new Majon Hotel for the unit. He said the Supreme Command underscored that the Strategic Rocket Force should cooperate with state bodies to provide the unit with everything they need during their leave.
Accordingly, the state transported the combat personnel of the Red Banner Company and their families to the resort on Tuesday using special event buses with a state escort.
Meanwhile, in North Korea, people are calling the commendations a measure to promote the successful ICBM launch as “Kim Jong Un’s biggest accomplishment in 10 years of power.”
In fact, propaganda organs have been promoting the Hwasong-17 launch as the “greatest gift” of the last 10 years since Kim rose to the ruling party’s top spot.
The source said the launch would be praised during the upcoming military parade to mark the 110th birthday of late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung on Apr. 15, too.
This means North Korea will likely underscore its policy to build its nuclear arsenal by showing off its ICBMs during the holiday military parade.
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