SEOUL: North Korea has staged a “simulated tactical nuke strike” exercise at the weekend with mock nuclear warheads attached to two long-range cruise missiles fired into the ocean, official media reported Sunday.
The Korean Central News Agency reported the operation on Saturday morning was a “counteraction exercise” in reply to joint military exercise by South Korea, and the US forces that the state-controlled media stated has escalated tensions in the region.
North Korea Fires Missiles as Part of Mock ‘Nuke Attack’
According to KCNA, “A firing exercise for simulated tactical nuke attack was carried out at dawn of September 2nd to warn the opponents of the real nuke war danger,”.
It added “Two long-range strategic cruise missiles tilted with mock nuke warheads were tested fire” from North Korea’s west coast into the sea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also confirmed Saturday that an unnamed number of missiles were launched at around 1900 GMT towards the Yellow Sea, saying the specifications of the objects were being analyzed.
KCNA reported Washington and Seoul were pursuing “confrontation hysteria” with their recent joint military exercises.
Read Also: North Korea Fires Several Cruise Missiles Toward Sea: South Korea
North Korea has carried out a record number of arms tests in the current year, and last week conducted its second failed try to send a spy satellite into orbit.
South Korea and the US have ramped up military cooperation in reply, conducting joint military drills with advanced jets and US strategic assets, AFP reported.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Kim Jong Un also visited a training command post where he detailed the next war plans, at key military posts in the South.
Ties between North and South Koreas are at their lowest point in years, and diplomatic efforts are stalled following failed attempts to talk about Pyongyang’s denuclearisation.
