Kim Jong Un
(Picture: AP)North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that recent missile launches were a nuclear attack simulation on the South.
The rogue nation sparked international condemnation after firing two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Sunday.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said in a statement that it detected two missile launches early yesterday morning from the North’s eastern coastal city of Munchon.
It added that South Korea’s military has boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a readiness in close coordination with the United States.
Kim has signalled that he plans to conduct more tests going forward and admitted that the recent missile launches were designed to simulate attacking the South with tactical nuclear weapons.
“Through seven times of launching drills of the tactical nuclear operation units, the actual war capabilities … of the nuclear combat forces ready to hit and wipe out the set objects at any location and any time were displayed to the full,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.
KCNA said the missile tests were in response to recent naval drills between US and South Korean forces, which involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for the first time in five years.
“The effectiveness and practical combat capability of our nuclear combat force were fully demonstrated as it stands completely ready to hit and destroy targets at any time from any location,” KCNA said.
“Even though the enemy continues to talk about dialogue and negotiations, we do not have anything to talk about nor do we feel the need to do so,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
Viewing the drills as a military threat, North Korea decided to stage “the simulation of an actual war” to check and improve its war deterrence and send a warning to its enemies, KCNA said.
North Korea considers US-South Korean military drills as an invasion rehearsal, though the allies have steadfastly said they are defensive in nature.
