North Korea says it has fired ballistic missiles again. This is intended to simulate a nuclear attack on the south, the military said. The missile launch is a response to joint US and South Korean military exercises.
North Korea has carried out a simulated nuclear attack on targets across South Korea, according to state media. The missile unit fired two ballistic missiles and correctly carried out its “nuclear strike mission,” the North Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Staff said in a statement released by the KCNA news agency.
The maneuver is aimed at “sending a clear message to the enemy,” the statement said. The exercise involved repelling a sudden invasion, then counterattacking to take “all the territory of the southern half” and leave “scorched earth” in their wake.
South Korea wants to continue maneuvers
According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the rockets were launched in the direction of the East Sea. According to the information, they flew about 360 kilometers before falling into the water. The military is still in the process of determining the nature of the missiles.
The latest missile launch came a day before the end of an 11-day joint South Korean-US military exercise, which the Pyongyang government says is in preparation for a US nuclear pre-emptive strike. The armed forces would continue their exercises with the US without restrictions, said South Korea’s top command authority.
Joint missile defense exercise
According to Yonhap, at least one US strategic B-1B bomber was involved in the summer maneuvers “Ulchi Freedom Shield” on Wednesday, which flew over the Korean peninsula. On Tuesday, the United States, South Korea and Japan held a joint naval missile defense exercise. The three countries have increased their defense cooperation in recent months.
North Korea regularly accuses the United States and South Korea of preparing for an attack with their military exercises – which both countries deny. After an unprecedented series of missile tests last year, North Korea has again tested multiple missiles and guided missiles this year.
Nuclear test expected soon
Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have recently increased. North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un has repeatedly threatened a military escalation in the region and had announced that he would expand his own nuclear arsenal “exponentially”. South Korea and the USA have therefore been warning for months that North Korea could carry out a nuclear weapons test in the near future. It would be the first such test since 2017.
North Korea is prohibited from launching ballistic missiles of any range by UN resolutions, even if it is only for exercises. Depending on the design, such rockets can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
Since the end of the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 there has only been an armistice on the peninsula. Technically, South and North Korea are still at war. While the US supports South Korea, China is North Korea’s most important ally.