N. Korean air force calls on pilots to exhibit traits of martyrs – Daily NK English

The political department of the North Korean Air Force Command recently issued political indoctrination materials for pilots stressing the “suicide pilot spirit,” Daily NK has learned.

Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in Pyongyang told Daily NK on Friday that the political department of the Air Force Command issued an “extraordinary” set of indoctrination materials on Jan. 11 entitled “Pilots, let’s prepare ourselves as loyal subjects flying the airways to protect the motherland on silver wings guarding the sun.”

The source said that the air force rarely issues political study materials exclusively to pilots; most of the time, the entire air force is given the materials.

According to the source, the materials said that as “protectors of the sky, pilots must prepare themselves as the highest incarnation of a guardian who is ready to die for the leader by ceaselessly cultivating themselves as ardent fighters who are willing to risk their lives and planes and blow themselves up to protect the supreme command, the motherland, and the peace of the people.”

They called on pilots to “prepare themselves as all-purpose pilots who combine a high level of flight tactics and skills in accordance with the faith and expectations of the comrade Supreme Commander [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un], who has praised all pilots as double and triple heroes.”

The materials also called on the pilots to strengthen the “wind of a new revolution during this year’s training to demonstrate a powerful nuclear state and the Great Army of Mt. Paektu with great conviction and class consciousness, as well as the lofty mission that both Pyongyang and the enemies’ strongholds exist under our wings.”

Referring to Kim’s call during a year-end party session for the military to “respond swiftly to any possible nuclear crisis and continuously push forward preparations for a major event to suppress the whole territory of South Korea by mobilizing all physical means and forces, including nuclear forces in case of emergency,” the materials exhorted the pilots to devote themselves to their personal and squadron combat training “with the fortitude that it is glorious to live or die in carrying out the operational orders of the supreme command until the last day when complete victory is achieved for the territory of the fatherland. ”

The source said the materials stressed that “there is no such thing as peacetime for pilots” and called on them to maintain a high state of readiness. They further repeatedly urged pilots to prepare for a “final life-and-death battle with the enemy with the force of strenuous effort by preparing themselves as indomitable fighters confident of victory in war.”

He added that the most important idea emphasized in the materials was that while “the South Korean scum and their pipsqueak allies keep talking about the inferiority of our air force and about dominating the skies, our pilots, armed with the high level of political and ideological power and the spirit of suicide pilots, must make the enemy’s strongholds and fortresses tremble.”

The air force’s political department ordered air force squadrons to study, discuss, and hold question-and-answer sessions on the materials until the Feb. 16 holiday celebrating the birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

The political department urged pilots to “complete their military tactical preparations, physical preparations and even political and ideological preparations to repay the special trust, expectations, love, and affection shown to them by the Comrade Supreme Commander.”

Daily NK’s source said the air force’s political department also tried to instill a sense of desperation in the men that “during a war, they won’t need fuel to return.” However, the wives and family members of pilots who heard this said that the air force has “always emphasized the spirit of suicide pilots, but it’s sadder because this time they are emphasizing it even more.”

Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler. 

Daily NK works with a network of sources who live in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information-gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.  

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