North Korea said a live-fire exercise on Saturday demonstrated what it called “huge destructive power.” The state news agency KCNA reported that several types of weapons were fired simultaneously to raise troop morale and improve the ability to collapse opposing forces.
According to KCNA, the drill involved five army units and tested attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and other systems. North Korean Marshal Pak Jong Chon said the exercise was intended to improve the forces’ ability to bring down an enemy’s armed forces “organizationally and structurally” once ordered.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said several missiles were fired and traveled about 250 kilometers into North Korea’s eastern waters. The distance suggests the systems are designed to reach targets in South Korea, including US military bases, according to the supplied report.
The firing drill came one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan concluded a trilateral maritime exercise. North Korea regards such exercises as provocative and aggressive.
The episode followed a US decision to substantially reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea. US President Donald Trump said the change reflected his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but Pyongyang said shortening the exercise did not alter its nature.
Experts cited by the source said North Korea continues its weapons activities despite the adjustment to the allied exercise. Kim has said he could return to talks if Washington abandons what he calls its hostile policy and recognises North Korea’s status as a nuclear state.