Ahead of Kim Jong Il’s 80th birthday anniversary, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent “special thanks” to military inspectors responsible for inspecting and supervising the production and deployment of weapons.
According to a Daily NK source in North Korea on Tuesday, gifts were given to officials from the Ministry of Defense, along with scientists, technicians, “labor innovators,” and other workers in the munitions industry. The source revealed that they were all provided with “one box containing food, fruits, and other manufactured products.”
North Korea has conducted weapons tests several times since the beginning of this year. In the runup to Kim Jong Il’s birthday anniversary, the leadership’s “gift politics” was aimed at honoring those who have contributed to the country’s weapons development.
North Korea is also using gift politics to strengthen domestic solidarity and emphasize its achievements in light of its announcement last year of a five-year plan for developing national defense.
That military inspectors were singled out for a “special thanks” from the leadership is notable.
Military inspectors and their families have responded to the praise by saying, “It is the first time that inspectors – who are normally just another cog in the munitions industry – are being recognized and appreciated.”
Some have pointed out, however, that the “special thanks” was only handed down because of the successful firing of the Tactile Missile System (KN-24) on Jan. 17 and the intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) “Hwasong-12” on Jan. 30. Indeed, the recent praise by the North Korean authorities reflects their acknowledgement of the significant contribution the inspectors made in testing the accuracy of these weapons systems.
In fact, the authorities did not hide their reason for congratulating the inspectors.
According to another Daily NK source, the authorities praised the inspectors, stating: “The Workers’ Party has produced powerful nuclear weapons as it had determined to do, contributing to the nuclear armament of the Korean People’s Army. This was possible thanks to the patriotic dedication of military inspectors, who are key to strengthening the quality and quantity of the nation’s nuclear power.”
The authorities also emphasized the “infinite loyalty to the party” shown by military inspectors, who “stood firm on the frontlines of technological operations” and built a “solid material and technological foundation for missile and strategic arms production and deployment” in a short amount of time.
The authorities further noted, “The weapons test inspections and launches have been the first great successes of Juche 111.” Military inspectors are to be noted in the history of the motherland, they went on, adding, “They have fulfilled their duty as key pillars in strengthening the quality and quantity of the nation’s nuclear armament.”
“The authorities see military inspectors as having played the most important role in the continual advancement of strategic weapons,” the second source said. “They seem intent on rapidly strengthening the quality and quantity of various weapons in the future.”
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