North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw artillery drills on Wednesday to test the “combat deployment” readiness of soldiers, according to state media, amid the army’s active participation in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published a brief report Thursday on an “artillery live-fire training competition,” stating the event prepared soldiers for “night marching and combat deployment” as well as “surprise attacks on unexpected enemy targets in summer coastal environments and conditions.”

Troops were also tested on “conducting surprise attacks on maritime targets” with their tasks “presented unexpectedly” by superiors in the field. Soldiers