Tensions are not easing around the Korean peninsula. North Korea conducted a new “tactical nuclear attack simulation” on Saturday with mock nuclear warheads mounted on two long-range cruise missiles fired into the Yellow Sea, the state news agency reported on Sunday.
“A tactical nuclear attack simulation firing maneuver was carried out at dawn on September 2 to warn enemies of the danger of nuclear war,” state news agency KCNA said. She said the operation was a response to joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington. South Korea and the United States held for eleven days, until August 31, these maneuvers called Ulchi Freedom Shield.
A previous nuclear simulation on Thursday
“Two long-range strategic cruise missiles surmounted by dummy nuclear warheads were launched” into the sea, to the south, from the west coast of North Korea, added the agency. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Saturday that an unknown number of cruise missiles had been fired around 4 a.m. towards the Yellow Sea.
On Thursday, the North Korean regime had already assured that it had fired two short-range ballistic missiles as part of another “tactical nuclear strike simulation”.
The American-South Korean exercises systematically arouse the ire of Pyongyang, which perceives them as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory. Seoul and Washington say the maneuvers are defensive in nature and aimed at enhancing cooperation among allies.
On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a navy command center where he detailed his plans in the event of war, including mentioning “simultaneous high-intensity strikes” against South Korean military positions. In addition to its missile tests, North Korea is trying to place a spy satellite into orbit, but its second attempt in three months failed on August 24.