North Korea: Missile tests simulated strikes on South Korea

North Korea’s recent missile tests aimed to simulate potential warning strikes on South Korea, according to state media. The missile tests followed the joint drills South Korea held with the United States.

North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported Monday that the recent missile launches were designed to simulate warning strikes to South Korea as South Korean and US forces carried out large-scale Navy drills.

Pyongyang launched two more ballistic missiles over the weekend, according to officials in Seoul and Tokyo, marking the seventh launch since September.

KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw exercises with nuclear tactical units in the last two weeks that involved ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.

The outlet said the exercises were meant to send a strong message of war deterrence. The exercises simulated strikes on South Korea’s military command facilities, main ports, and airports.

“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,” said KCNA. “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.”

The outlet said the ruling North Korean Worker’s Party carried out the drills as a response to the mobilization of US and South Korean forces, including an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. The US and South Korean joint maritime exercises came a day after South Korea scrambled its jets in response to an apparent North Korean aerial bombing drill.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday that Pyongyang has nothing to gain from using nuclear weapons following the reports of the tests aiming to strike South Korea.

“North Korea is consistently developing and upgrading its nuclear weapons and posing nuclear threats to not only the Republic of Korea, but the world,” Yoon told reporters, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. “I believe it has nothing to gain from nuclear weapons.”

Yoon said he intends to boost South Korea’s capabilities to counter North Korea’s threats through the US alliance and the trilateral security cooperation with Washington and Japan.