"The North Korean military held a mobilization and firing competition among its tank units in a border area last week. But the number of participating units and equipment decreased remarkably from last year," the source said.
The Pyongyang military holds its armored units competition annually in the first six months of the year. The contest is held for training but is usually conducted in a way similar to a real battle.
In 2016 and 2017, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the contest.
"It was confirmed that Kim Jong-un didn't attend last week's contest," the source pointed out.
The thaw between Seoul and Pyongyang has also led to the increasing diplomatic activities on the peninsula. In April, Kim held his first direct talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, while the North Korean leader’s meeting with US President Donald Trump is set to take place on June 12 in Singapore.
