Saying that December 1 is the first day when the combat and political training for the new year started, the Supreme Commander congratulated all the officers and men of the army who have turned out as one in the training.

The year 2017 is of significance as it marks the 105th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung, the 75th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il and the 85th founding anniversary of the KPA, he said, calling for a revolutionary turn in the combat and political training to adorn the next year with proud success in enhancing the fighting strength.

He mounted an observation post to learn about the deployment of fire positions of the artillery units and a plan for their artillery intensive striking drill.

Taking part in the striking drill were artillery sub-units of the defence detachments on islets in the West Sea on the front, tasked to strike the 6th marine brigade and the Yonphyong unit under the south Korean puppet Command for the Defense of Northwestern Islands, and mid- and long-range artillery sub-units on the front which are tasked to strike the military installations and the reactionary ruling organs in Seoul and other operational theaters of south Korea, the direction of main and secondary attacks on the front.

The drill was conducted in the way of volley and quick firing.

At an order given by Kim Jong Un, the KPA artillery units on the front kicked off the artillery firing.

Satisfied with the drill of striking the five islands in the southwest sea, including Paekryong and Yonphyong islands, and the enemy cities and military installations and reactionary ruling organs in the direction of the KPA's main attack, Kim Jong Un said that nobody and nothing would survive in such strike. And he stressed that if a war breaks out, such deadly strike should be inflicted upon the south Korean forces to completely break their will of counteraction at the start and make a clean sweep of them.

Hearing a resolve made by Ri Song Guk, commander of the KPA 4th Corps, to wipe out the enemies with merciless artillery strikes on their dens once the Supreme Commander gives an order, Kim Jong Un said that when a war of justice starts, the sound of gunfire for victory made by the artillery units on the southwestern front would greatly encourage other units of the KPA advancing southward.

The Supreme Commander expressed his great satisfaction over the successful artillery firing contest and intensive striking drill.

It is the WPK's view on giving importance to the artillery and artillery philosophy to open the gate to national reunification with the artillery and celebrate the victory of national reunification with fireworks displayed by the artillery, he said, adding that the Party has great belief and expectation in the artillery, the iron fist of the People's Army in a great war for national reunification.

Saying that a modern warfare is just an artillery duel and the application of the artillery in a modern war, which goes in three dimensions--sky, land and sea--irrespective of the front and the rear, is a major factor decisive of the victory in operation and combat, he set forth the important tasks for bolstering up the artillery force.