With the recently identified, resumption of flight activity by the 24th Air regiment at the Uiju airbase and those affiliated with the Defense Sports Team, it seems that fuel necessary for training is now being sufficiently supplied. Given that fuel would have been prioritized for frontline operational units, this implies that fuel distribution within the North Korean military is relatively stable. As a result, it appears that the overall combat readiness of the Korean People’s Army has improved. In particular, the resumption of parachute training by the Defense Sports Team is likely being utilized as part of North Korea’s “military-first policy—serving as a means of strengthening internal unity through sports and functioning as a tool for political propaganda.

Although the IL-28 bomber is an aging aircraft, it could still be used in the event of a conflict to provoke the launch of interceptor aircraft or air defense missiles from ROK-U.S. combined forces. By acting as a decoy, the IL-28 may be intended to deplete limited air defense assets, thereby creating windows of opportunity for follow-on strikes using ballistic or cruise missiles. For this reason, continuous monitoring of the IL-28’s tactical deployment and activity remains essential.