North Korea has unveiled a new battle tank during training exercises, state media reported Thursday, amid ongoing joint military drills between South Korea and the United States. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un drove a new tank himself during the "training match" between tank units Wednesday in a bid to inspect tank troops' actual combat capabilities, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Calling them "the most powerful tanks in the world," Kim expressed satisfaction over their striking power and maneuverability, it said. "He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the new-type main battle tank successfully demonstrated its very excellent striking power and maneuverability, displaying its amazing militant performance for the first time in the tankmen's match," the KCNA said. Photos carried by the KCNA showed Kim driving the tank himself and the battle tanks engaged in training exercises in an indication that the country may have deployed them for operations. North Korea displayed th e new tank during a military parade in October 2020 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. Experts said the tank unveiled this week appears to be the upgraded version. Noting the role of tankmen in modern warfare, Kim underscored the need to organize intensive exercises simulating an actual war and training matches so that "they can carry out any combat mission promptly and accurately in a contingency." Last week, state media said the North's leader guided artillery firing drills involving front-line units capable of striking the "enemy's capital." Kim's inspection came as Seoul and Washington have been staging the annual Freedom Shield exercise to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The 11-day drills are set to end later in the day. Pyongyang has long denounced joint military drills between Seoul and Washington as rehearsals for an invasion and used them as a pretext for provocations. The allies have said their military exercises are defensive in nature. At a year-end party meeting, Kim defined inter-Korean ties as relations between "two states hostile to each other" and vowed preparations to occupy the South Korean territory in an event of war. Source: Yonhap News Agency Surin, Minister of Commerce Led a team to inspect rice quality for the 10-year old rice pledging project in Surin Province. Found 145,590 sacks still of good quality. Prepared to consult with the NCB to quickly find a way to drain the matter to preserve the benefits of the entire state and clear up problems for all parties. Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, revealed that due to receiving a letter of complaint from the Thai Agricultural Product Inspection Business Association. which was affected by accusations that the rice in the rice pledging program was not stored up to standard and was found to be of deteriorated quality to the point that it could not be sold for human consumption. He took the opportunity to inspect government officials in the areas of Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchaburi provinces to inspect the warehouse where rice in the project has been stored for 10 years at the warehouse. Poonphon Trading Co., Ltd., behind 4 Muang District, and Kittichai Wareho use, behind 2, Prasat District, Surin Province. Separated into warehouse Poonphon Trading Co., Ltd., Building No. 4, has 32,879 sacks of rice remaining, and Kittichai Warehouse No. 2 has 112,711 sacks of rice remaining, totaling 145,590 sacks. And after inspection which has a private warehouse owner Provincial Commerce Officer, OCSC, all three of whom hold the keys to open the warehouse. along with the director and senior executives of the Ministry of Commerce Participated in the rice quality inspection this time. It was found that the rice stored in the warehouse was still of good quality. 'We took a sample of rice from a sack. Come out and try cooking and tasting. The quality of the cooked rice is still good and can be eaten. I think the problem should be solved quickly. Because during this time The price of rice is quite good. If you rush to sell, drain it out. It will preserve the interests of the state and clear up problems for all parties. This matter will be brought to the meeting of Rice Policy and M anagement Committee (NRCT) because if we don't act quickly today, the longer the price of rice falls, the worse it will be. You will have to pay a lot of rent for the course costs. It is considered that we have come together to solve the problem,' Mr. Phumtham said. Source: Thai News Agency