Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters). During efforts to improve the nation’s defense capabilities, North Korean mechanized soldiers held an artillery firing competition this weekend. State media reported Sunday

State news agency KCNA reported that the drills were held on Saturday. The move comes at a time when North Korea has been complaining more about what it considers a double standard. North Korea’s military exercises invite criticism from international observers, while those of South Korea and the United States are not.

Analysts believe Pyongyang wants to normalize its defense activities with the goal of eventually winning acceptance by international bodies of its nukes and missiles.

Much of North Korea’s large conventional artillery force http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/NORTHKOREA-MISSILES/010041BR2VH/index.html is deployed along the fortified border with South Korea, where they have the range to reach as far as the heavily populated capital city of Seoul.

“At a time when there is a lot of enthusiasm in Korea People’s Army for intense training, it’s a great opportunity to strengthen the state defence capability under the banners of self-defence,” KCNA stated.

These were oversaw by Pak Jong Chon who is a member of Presidium of Political Bureau and secretary of Central Committee of Workers’ Pary of Korean, KCNA stated.

Pak, a former general and rising star of the powerful country’s military as well as an important player in its missile program, was elevated to his current position in September.

General Rim Kwangil, the chief of KPA’s General Staff, and commanders from the participating units, watched the drills, KCNA reported.

According to the report, “As soon the firing orders had been given by the commanders in the combined units gun barrels to destroy the enemy competitively bombarded the target so that it was accurately hit”