Kim Jong-un Reviews North Korea's Special Forces And Sniper Exercises

Leader Kim while reviewing North Korea's sniper drills. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the importance of strengthening special operations forces while reviewing the country's training of special forces and jita (sniper) shooters, state media reported on Thursday.

Leader Kim visited a special operations training base under the military's General Staff the day before and examined the training of the units, including their weapons and training methods, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Leader Kim described snipers as selected troops assigned to essential missions and trained to carry out independent and autonomous military action.

He said strengthening special operations and sniper capabilities was significantly an "important task" in the country's military development.

"Arming special operations forces as a whole to make them the main force in war operations and the strongest combat groups is a top priority task in preparing for our military war," Leader Kim was quoted as saying by The Korea Herald Aug. 28.

He further noted that the party's military commission would review the organization of the centralized sniper training center in the General Staff.

On the occasion, Leader Kim also examined the new local sniper rifles distributed to military units, calling them superior "long-range appreciation" weapons and calling for the modernization of weapons and the development of innovative war tactics.

He also ordered improving the quality of camouflage combat clothing for snipers to suit the conditions and weather in their mission areas, before overseeing direct firing drills by sniper units and training sessions of special operations forces.

KCNA published the report on the last day of a large-scale joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States, Ulchi Freedom Shield, which began on August 18.

Pyongyang has repeatedly criticized the military exercise, condemning it as an attempt to "attack" the country.