North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who paraded his country’s missiles in a show of force this week, also flexed his rogue regime’s muscle with an outlandish display of brute human strength.
State TV footage has gone viral of shirtless, brawny soldiers performing an exhibition intended to show the Hermit Kingdom’s enemies that “iron fists” are part of the arsenal, The Hill reports.
The despot said he aimed to build an “invincible” army to counter “hostile” US forces.
In the video posted on Twitter by North Korea-focused journalist Martyn Williams, Kim can be seen smiling as the muscle-bound troops use their hands to smash bricks placed on others’ chests and break chains around their bodies.
Some of the soldiers broke concrete tiles by performing running jump kicks, others engaged in choreographed hand-to-hand combat and one shirtless participant was pummeled across his body with long poles – clearly impressing Kim, who applauded.
One of the crazier stunts was performed by soldiers who used sledgehammers to break concrete slabs – by striking the bare arms of their comrades, who placed them on the targets.
The video also shows a soldier breaking two bottles and then lying on his back on the glass shards, though it was unclear what military value the skill provided.
On Monday, Kim accused the US of “wrong judgments and actions,” in a marked change of posturing since the turnover from former President Donald Trump’s administration.