KCNA noted on Monday that the division “was the first to charge into Seoul and hoist the DPRK flag on the puppet capitol building, and it performed distinguished feats in many battles during the past Motherland Liberation War.

The news agency indicated that Kim, who is also the president of the State Affairs Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), also visited the 1st Armored and Tank Infantry Regiment of the Seoul Division, which was established in 1948 at the initiative of then-President Kim Il-sung.

Kim described the unit as “a symbol of the heroic and courageous spirit” of the KPA and called on the troops to continue to prepare themselves technically, physically and ideologically to hold their banner high and be ready to fight the enemy’s threats and a possible war.

The DPRK supreme leader was briefed on the unit’s offensive and defensive operation plans and he personally led a training exercise for the tankers.

Kim has presided over several military drills this month amid growing risks of a military confrontation with the United States and its allies in the region, where they held the Freedom Shield military drills, one of the largest of its kind, in mid-March.

jg/iff/mem/asg