Seoul, April 16 (NationPress) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over an artillery firing competition to commemorate the birth anniversary of the nation's founder, Kim Il-sung, who is the grandfather of the current leader, as reported by state media on Thursday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), "Comrade Kim Jong-un... supervised an artillery firing contest for the artillery subunits of the large combined forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western region, which was organized on April 15, the Day of the Sun."

This marks the first occasion where the leader has been reported to participate in a military event on the birth anniversary of the founder, a significant national holiday celebrated as the Day of the Sun.

The participating subunits showcased their "militant marksmanship" and a "full war posture," with the top honor awarded to the Capital City Defence Corps' artillery unit, followed by the KPA's 4th Corps, as stated by the KCNA.

Kim expressed his contentment with the artillery contest held on this "most auspicious" national holiday, deeming it "an important opportunity" to enhance artillery training motivation and fortify combat capabilities.

He emphasized that the effective use of artillery units is "the most critical factor determining success in operations, battles, and ultimately in war," urging the KPA to improve artillery combat preparedness and fully execute the modernization of artillery units under a new five-year defense development initiative.

"The KPA must focus solely on training to perfect combat readiness," Kim stated, reiterating that "this is precisely how we can fulfill the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung's aspiration for building a powerful military."

According to a South Korean unification ministry official, Kim's oversight of the artillery contest on this national holiday seems designed to project military strength and reinforce internal unity.

The KCNA further reported that Premier Pak Thae-song, Supreme People's Assembly Chairman Jo Yong-won, along with various party and government officials, paid their respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the founder's embalmed body is preserved, on his birth anniversary, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

It appears that Kim Jong-un did not visit the family mausoleum this year, with reports indicating that he only sent a floral tribute.

Since 2023, this is the fourth consecutive year that Kim has not honored the mausoleum on the founder's birthday, a likely strategy to redirect loyalty from his grandfather, the late Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, towards himself.