Air Force marks 80th anniversary… Kim stresses airspace sovereignty and nuclear deterrence
Kim Jong-un and his daughter attend the Air Force ceremony at Wonsan Kalma Airport [Image: KCNA]
Kim Jong-un attended an event on November 28 marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Air Force and highlighted its new strategic mission as part of nuclear deterrence..
The Korean People’s Army Air Force, as the service is known, is the “oldest branch of our military” and has an 80-year combat history as an “invincible myth,” Kim said, according to the state’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“A decisive battle in the skies is, before anything else, a contest of ideology and conviction,” he said, stressing that indomitable spirit, rather than advanced fighter jets, determines victory or defeat.
The event was held at the Wonsan Kalma Airport, a dual-use civil and military airfield in Kangwon Province on the country’s east coast.
Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. Together, they observed demonstration flights by female pilots. Kim called them “proud comrades representing the women of our nation,” and urged that the honor of the Air Force and the dignity of women be safeguarded together.
He also noted that new strategic military assets would be deployed and declared that the Air Force would play a crucial role in nuclear deterrence.
This signals that the service is being integrated into a deterrence system linked to nuclear and missile capabilities, beyond its traditional mission of defending national airspace.
The timing of the large-scale celebration is significant, as it coincides with claims by prosecutors in South Korea that the previous administration of Yoon Suk-yeol attempted drone incursions over Pyongyang in connection with a failed martial law plan.
The event can be interpreted as a symbolic act to assert North Korea’s sovereignty over its airspace, showcase the Air Force’s stature, and politically counter external reconnaissance.
During the ceremony, Kim presented a Kim Jong Il Medal, named after his father, to the Air Force commander, Kim Kwang-hyuk.
“The Air Force must resolutely repel and suppress all forms of enemy reconnaissance and military provocations,” Kim said, ordering the branch to maintain constant combat readiness.
The remarks come after recent condemnation by North Korea of U.S. and South Korean reconnaissance activities.
Since 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense and the White House National Security Council have repeatedly warned that North Korea’s arms transactions with Russia could enhance Pyongyang’s military capabilities, including its air power. Japan’s Defense White Paper has also cautioned about the military implications of North Korea–Russia cooperation, raising concerns about potential technology transfers in aviation, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has been monitoring maritime and rail routes for signs of military cooperation, particularly regarding aviation fuel and spare parts.
Kim’s positioning of the Air Force as part of the country’s nuclear deterrence capability raises the likelihood of transfers of aircraft components, electronic warfare equipment, and training doctrines through closer ties with Russia. In response, the U.S. and its allies may need to prioritize strengthening airborne command-and-control (C2) systems, enhancing electronic warfare defenses, reviewing crisis management protocols, enforcing sanctions, and disrupting supply chains.
Kim Yumi, a North Korean defector, was born and raised in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, a coastal military area. Growing up near a naval base, she was able to secretly watch South Korean news programs and TV shows, thereby uncovering the vibrant, democratic society of South Korea. Yumi and her husband made the brave decision to escape North Korea and seek a better future. Now in Seoul, she is actively involved in raising awareness about the realities of life in North Korea, especially on her YouTube channel, “@KimYumiTV.”
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