Seoul, March 20 (NationPress) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised a collaborative offensive exercise that showcased new main battle tanks featuring an "active protection system." He asserted that ground forces will be supplied with the "superior" tank extensively, according to reports from state media on Friday.

Kim led "a synchronized offensive tactical drill involving infantry and armored units" a day prior at the Pyongyang Training Base No. 60, part of the Capital City Defence Corps of the Korean People's Army. This was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The exercise included "various assessments" to evaluate the active protection system of the new main battle tank, successfully intercepting all anti-tank missiles and drones that attacked from diverse angles, demonstrating its "superior active protection capabilities," the KCNA explained.

Kim praised the tank as "exceptionally superior" and "unmatched globally in both striking power and mobility," highlighting its self-defensive attributes.

During the tank's development, emphasis was placed on enhancing its survivability, with Kim noting its mobile self-defensive complex that can detect threats from all directions and accurately target anti-tank guided missiles and drones.

"Our armored forces, which previously struggled during nighttime operations, have significantly improved their combat effectiveness," the leader remarked. "Going forward, our ground forces will be extensively equipped with these advanced tanks."

Additionally, Kim stressed the importance of continually enhancing the main battle tank's performance to align with the evolving landscape of modern warfare and called for "swift progress in completing war preparations" across all military units.

Images released by North Korean state media depicted Ju-ae, Kim's daughter, who is presumed to be in line as his successor, riding alongside her father in a tank, marking her latest appearance at a significant military event, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

The drill conducted on Thursday aimed to "familiarize troops with coordinated orders and combat strategies" to bolster their offensive capabilities in capturing and raiding enemy anti-armor defense lines, according to the KCNA.

Drones targeted enemy command posts using real-time reconnaissance data, while anti-tank missiles launched from an armored vehicle unit struck predetermined targets. Rear strike units subsequently neutralized enemy drones and armed helicopters from concealed positions before breaching enemy defenses to allow tanks and infantry to launch their assaults, the KCNA detailed.

This drill marked the final day of this year's 11-day Freedom Shield, the annual spring joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States, which North Korea vehemently criticizes as a war rehearsal.

The battle tank displayed during Thursday's exercise is believed to be the Chonma-20 main battle tank, which was first showcased during a military parade in October of the previous year.

According to Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, this latest drill may reflect what North Korea has assimilated from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, particularly concerning the pivotal role of drones in ground combat.