North Korea has announced the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles in a move aimed at simulating nuclear attacks on military sites within South Korea. The country’s state media conveyed that these tests conducted as a direct response to the United States’ deployment of strategic bombers in the vicinity.
The missiles reportedly fired from North Korea’s east coast around midnight, as reported by South Korean media. These launches thus coincide with the annual military exercises conducted by Washington and Seoul, exercises that consistently elicit a reaction from North Korea.
For a while now, Pyongyang decried these joint drills as rehearsals for war orchestrated by the US. In a statement, North Korea’s army explained that the recent missile firings, occurring on Wednesday, were part of a “tactical nuclear strike drill to replicate devastating assaults on major command centers and operational airfields” located in South Korea
Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un personally observed a drill on Tuesday, overseeing the training of his top commanders for a scenario of full-scale conflict with South Korea. The simulation involved repelling a sudden invasion and then launching a counter-offensive aimed at gaining control over the entirety of the southern region.
Despite facing sanctions from the United Nations, Kim Jong-Un consistently pledged to enhance the production of nuclear warheads and the development of more potent weaponry for his nation. In this year alone, Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile trials, continuing a trend that began in 2022 even including missiles capable of reaching US territories.
Over the past months, there have been unsuccessful attempts by North Korea to launch two space satellites. In a separate development, the United States reported on Wednesday that North Korea actively engaged in negotiations with Russia concerning a potential arms agreement.