North Korean soldiers are shown undergoing harsh winter training in new videos released as the isolated nation held a large-scale military celebration this week.
In one of the videos, shirtless soldiers with the Korean People’s Army can be seen training outdoors in snowy conditions. They punch trees, lift and carry logs, and appear to chop blocks of ice with their hands.
In other scenes, the underdressed soldiers cover their bare skin with snow, crawl through a snowy field, and splash through a river carrying rifles. One shot depicts a soldier breaking himself out of a chain with his arms.
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A second video displays soldiers in tactical gear drilling in various wintertime scenarios. Camouflaged snipers pop out of snow, armed divers emerge from icy water, and operators in dark camo pop out of bushes.
Another scene shows a soldier rappelling down a building and breaching a window. At one point, a soldier leaps over the roof of a car.
The videos were watermarked in one corner by the state-run Korean Central Television network. They appeared to be released as part of a military parade that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the KPA’s founding Wednesday night, as reported by Reuters.
The parade showcased the latest upgrade to North Korea’s nuclear arsenal: about 10-12 Hwasong-17 missiles theorized to be capable of striking the U.S., CNN reported. The new missile was tested for the first time last year amid a flurry of 94 other launches, more than any prior year, as reported by the New York Times.
Significant construction is underway at a North Korean rocket launch site, the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. The developments appear intended to “support the long-term goal of launching larger and more capable space launch vehicles,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
