North Korea: Kim Jong Un Calls for Airtight Combat Preparedness, Visits First Tank Unit That Entered Seoul During Korean War

North Korea: Kim Jong Un Calls for Airthight Combat Preparedness, Visits First Tank Unit That Entered Seoul During Korean War — North Koraen Leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the Inter-Korean Summit at the Peace House on April 27, 2018 in Panmunjom, South Korea.
(Photo : Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un addressed a tank group named "Seoul" for being the first to invade the capital of South Korea during the Korean War, complementing the unit as a "model for the entire army," state media said on Monday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un visited the First Tank Armored Infantry Regiment, which is associated with the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards, and the 105th Tank Division on Sunday.

Kim Jong Un Commends Elite Unit's Role in Seoul Visit

According to the Korean Central National Army (KCNA), the division has shown itself in several obligations throughout the previous Fatherland Liberation War. It was the first unit to march into Seoul and improve the DPRK flag atop the puppet capitol building.

Kim Jong Un has hailed the unit as "the symbol of the heroic and brave spirit of" the North Korean army, saying it deserves to fly the flag high and serve as an example for the entire army in the current situation, when the force is going through intense training to complete preparations for war.

Kim visited Seoul, where the division general briefed him on his plan for assault and defense, examined papers, and gave him instructions on operational combat tasks and personnel training.

In order to improve the unit's combat readiness and influence, he offered tasks and guidelines that included arming the tank crew with an overwhelming amount of ideological and mental power, training them physically and militarily, and fully preparing combat technology equipment for regular mobilization.

The M2020 tank made its debut at a midnight military parade in October 2020, which corresponded with the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea's founding. Its design, which was similar to both the Russian T-14 Armata tank and the American Abrams tank, attracted a lot of attention, according to Reuters.

North Korea's Technological Advancement

Classically designed, the M2020 tank has a driver's compartment in front, a combat compartment with a manned turret in the middle, and an engine compartment in the back. Chinese-made engine with 1200-1500 HP (883-1103 kW) power transmission.

A bend control device-equipped 125-mm gun with a longer barrel than the 2A46 family's 48-caliber guns is the tank's main weapon. A 7.62-mm machine gun and another located close to the gunner's hatch. Right of the turret is a twin anti-tank missile system.

The communication and fire control systems are still hidden, but before the commander's hatch is a device that looks like a panoramic viewing equipment. The tank has become four, removing an automated loader. The fire control system's thermal imaging for the commander and gunner is limited by the commander's fixed viewing equipment.

The M2020 is a major technological advances for North Korea, exceeding its current armament of over 600 Soviet light tanks (PT-76 and the local M1981/PT-85 models), 2200 old T-54 and T-55 tanks, an unidentified number of T-72 tanks, and 970 unchanged and roughly 2000 modernized T-62 tanks.

Although having less tanks than Kim Jong Un's arsenal, South Korea has produced exceptional tanks since the 1980s, including the most recent K2 variants, which have helped the country close the technological gap with the world's best tank manufacturers, Essanews reported.