Rather than hold a military parade or other large event specifically for the Day of the Sun – Kim Il Sung’s birthday – this year, the North Korean regime chose instead to hold events focused on the air force.

The first event was the First Meeting of Airpersons of the KPA on April 15. Kim presided over the meeting along with several high-ranking military officials. A day or two after the meeting of airmen in Pyongyang, Kim oversaw a second air force-related event, a flight exercise of Unit 188. This was Kim’s second known visit to the