http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/22/asia/north-korea-female-fighter-pilots/
fighter jet pilots, calling them "heroes of Korea" and "flowers of the sky."
Pilots Jo Kum Hyang and Rim Sol wept as they were presented with bouquets in
front of their leader, who attributed their successful solo flights to their
"noble revolutionary spirit, ideological acceptance of the party's
training-first policy and loyalty to the Supreme Commander," KCNA, North Korea's
state news agency reported.
Kim watched on as they performed take-off and landing drills. It was not clear
exactly when they took place.
State media has been praising the prowess of the Korean People's Air Force
(KPAF) in recent months, but the planes on the airfield told a different story.
The pilots were flying what appeared to be Soviet era MiG-21 supersonic fighter
jets or a Chinese version of that aircraft -- the Chengdu J-7 supersonic fighter
jet.
The MiG-21 first came into service in the late 1950s and saw considerable
service in the Vietnam War.
The KPAF is estimated to be the fifth-largest air force in the world, with
110,000 service personnel and 820 combat aircraft.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches as a female fighter jet pilot performs
drills.
But there is considerable doubt as to how many of those aircraft, some of them
dating back to the 1950s, are airworthy.
Visitors to Pyongyang are often surprised by the sight of antiquated biplanes on
the runway.
North Korea's most advanced combat aircraft, nearly three dozen MiG-29's, were
purchased from the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
A lack of fuel, spare parts and the need to conserve the aging fleet mean pilots
can log only a handful of flying hours a year.
However, that does not seem to discourage Jo Kum Hyang and Rim Sol.
KCNA reported that they tearfully thanked Kim "for giving them wings to fly and
courage."
They pledged themselves to fly "in the aerial front line, to safeguard Kim Jong
Un through a thousand miles of clouds and ten thousand miles of fire."
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