SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to intensify drills to respond to and deter a “real war” if necessary, state media reported on Friday after the leader witnessed a fire assault drill that it said proved the capabilities of the country.
The Military of South Korea said North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its west coast on Thursday. The military added it was analyzing possibilities the North Korea may have launched multiple missiles from the same area.
Photos released by North Korea’s KCNA news agency showed at least six missiles being fired simultaneously.
KCNA said a unit trained for “assault missions” fired a “powerful volley at the targeted waters” and proved its capability to “counter an actual war.”
“North Korean leader Kim stressed that the fire assault sub-units should be prepared for the greatest perfection in launching the two strategic missions to deter possible war and to take the initiative in war by steadily intensifying several simulated drills for real war,” KCNA reported.
South Korea to enhance military drills with US
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country would step up joint military drills with the United States (US) and increase joint planning and execution of the United States’ extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
“We will build an overwhelming retaliation posture and response capability,” Yoon said. He said that the security situation around the Korean peninsula was “very serious than ever.”
South Korea has been seeking to strengthen extended deterrence, the ability of the United States military to deter attacks with its nuclear capability, amid growing calls within South Korea to develop its own nuclear capability to respond to North Korean threats.
The latest missile launches took place as the US and South Korea were set to launch large-scale military exercises called the Freedom Shield drills next week.
