2022 was a year of great victory when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea demonstrated to the whole world its might and absolute strength as a military power.

The test-launch of new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-17 was conducted under the direct guidance of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, on November 18, Juche 111 (2022).

The ICBM, launched at Pyongyang International Airport, travelled up to a maximum altitude of 6 040.9 km and flew a distance of 999.2 km for 4 135s before accurately landing on the preset area in open waters of the East Sea of Korea. The successful test-fire clearly proved the reliability of the weapon system of the DPRK and its powerful combat performance as the strongest strategic weapon in the world, and the nuclear forces of the DPRK have secured another reliable and maximum capacity to contain any nuclear threat.

After discussing the politico-military situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula and its prospects late in September last year, the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea decided to organize and conduct military drills under the simulation of an actual war at different levels in order to send a strong military counteraction warning to the enemies.

According to the decision of the WPK Central Military Commission, the armed forces of the DPRK carried out high-intensity military drills of units for the operation of tactical nukes, corps of the Air Force and long-range artillery sub-units on the front. From November 2 to 5, the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army conducted the military counteraction operations, including a large-scale all-out combat sortie operation of the Air Force.

Through the firing drills of the tactical nuclear operation units, the actuality of the nuclear combat forces of the country and its militant effectiveness and actual war capabilities, which were fully ready to strike and wipe out the set targets at the intended places and in the set time, were displayed to the full.

Last year, the national defence science sector developed and perfected the Juche-oriented weapons of a new generation by putting spurs to steadily bolstering up the country’s military capabilities in terms of quality and quantity.

The newly-developed hypersonic missile, new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-17, long-range strategic cruise missile and other Juche-oriented weapons have correctness, technical superiority and perfect combat efficiency in the overall weapon systems.

What is important is that all of them have tremendous power, and they have been developed and completed one after another at a very fast pace, and that the means of operation of nukes have been diversified and their operational spheres expanded.

The continuous successes in the test-launch of hypersonic missile in January, the inspection firing drill of the railway mobile missile regiment of North Phyongan Province, the test-fires for updating long-range cruise missile system and for confirming the conventional warhead power of surface-to-surface tactical guided missile, the test-launch of new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-17 in March, the test-fire of new-type tactical guided weapon in April, a ballistic missile launching drill under the simulation of loading tactical nuclear warheads at a silo under a reservoir in September and the test-fire of long-range strategic cruise missiles in October powerfully demonstrated the fast speed of their development and the capabilities to strike the enemies at any time and in any place, and with any purposes and means.

The static firing test of high-thrust solid-fuel motor with a thrust of 140tf conducted in December last year provided a sure sci-tech guarantee for the development of another new-type strategic weapon system and solved another important problem in carrying out the five priority tasks facing the strategic weapon sector under the five-year plan for the development of defence science and weapon systems set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Credit for these achievements made in the national defence industry last year must go to the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Un who clarified the strategic goals to be attained by the defence industry at Party and state meetings, provided the defence scientists with fresh seeds for developing weapons and gave detailed guidance to the whole processes.

Through the events of historic national significance in 2022, the Korean people hardened their faith that his plan precisely means science and practice and that they could overcome any difficulties and accomplish any great cause only when they do as instructed by him.