March 20, 2023
Analysis

N. Korea conducts paratrooper training drill as UFG concludes

Drill demonstrates North’s own military capability, contrast with UFG

The North Korean military recently conducted a training exercise involving paratrooper units which was observed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and publicized in state media on Thursday.

Although the date of the training event is uncertain, as it wasn’t revealed by North Korean media, it was publicized just as South Korea and the United States concluded their joint training exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). The U.S.-ROK military drill is conducted annually in August and Pyongyang routinely criticizes it as rehearsal for an invasion of the North.