North Korea simulates nuclear counterattack against US and South Korea
Kim Jong Un urged his armed forces to stand ready for any “immediate and overwhelming nuclear counterattack anytime” as the North fired another ballistic missile.
Monday 20 March 2023 15:34, UK
A view shows a missile fired by the North Korean military at an undisclosed location in this image released by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 20, 2023. KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Photo showing what the North Korean government says was a ballistic missile launch over the weekend
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North Korea says it has simulated a nuclear counterattack against the US and South Korea as it fired another ballistic missile over the weekend – its fifth this month.
Kim Jong Un instructed his military to hold more drills to sharpen the war readiness of his nuclear forces in the face of “aggression” by his enemies, state media reported.
He said the exercises improved his military’s war capability and urged the military to stand ready for any “immediate and overwhelming nuclear counterattack anytime”.
The latest launch by the secretive nation came as the US and South Korea conduct their largest joint military exercises in years.
Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile, which flew about 500 miles, was tipped with a mock nuclear warhead.
It described the test as successful, saying the device detonated as intended 800 meters above water at a spot that simulated an unspecified “major enemy target,” supposedly reaffirming the reliability of the weapon’s nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators.
This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says is a ballistic missile in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, on March 19, 2023. Pic: AP
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Pic: AP
KCNA said the exercises on Saturday and Sunday were designed to boost the country’s “war deterrence and nuclear counterattack capability”, accusing Washington and Seoul of making an “explicit attempt to unleash a war” against it.
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In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, with his daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 10, center right, attend a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government.
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FILE – This photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sept. 8, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)
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Unusually, the short-range missile flew from a buried silo, which analysts say would help fire future missiles with little warning while evading outside monitoring.
Pyongyang is racing to perfect intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking targets anywhere in the US.
North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile to 'strike fear into the enemies' 0:40
Play Video – NK launches missile to ‘strike fear into enemies’
North Korea fires intercontinental ballistic missile to ‘strike fear into the enemies’.
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“With a silo, you can quickly fire a missile, almost immediately,” said Yang Uk, a fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.
“And without launch preparations being detected in advance, you can just press a button.
“But the downside is that silos can be detected with satellite imagery, so someone would always keep an eye on them, and they might just be incapacitated in a pre-emptive strike.”
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