North Korea simulated a tactical nuclear attack on neighboring South Korea by firing two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday. Ruler Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the exercises. The tests were in response to joint South Korean, Japanese and US military exercises.
“The effectiveness and practical combat capability of our nuclear combat troops has been fully demonstrated as they are ready to hit and destroy targets anytime, anywhere,” North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported Monday.
The missiles used fake warheads to send a strong message of war deterrence. The various tests simulated the shelling of military command facilities, the attack on key ports and the neutralization of southern airports, KCNA said.
The exercises, overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, are an “inevitable response” to the mobilization of US and South Korean naval forces, the KCNA report said. “While the enemy continues to talk about dialogue and negotiation, we have nothing to talk about and we don’t feel the need,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
Already the seventh rocket star since September 27
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early Sunday, making it the seventh launch since Sept. 25. North Korea is currently preparing to launch a ballistic submarine missile and an ICBM, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Experts also expect North Korea to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017 in the coming weeks.
UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range, which, depending on the design, can also carry a nuclear warhead. This year alone, the North Korean military has fired more than 40 ballistic missiles.
A UN Security Council common position on North Korean missile launches is not yet in sight. At an emergency meeting in New York on Wednesday, a proposed joint statement by China, which is considered North Korea’s main partner, was blocked before the meeting.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
