Kim Jong-un, supervised military exercises that simulated a nuclear counterstrike

20 March 2023, via Al Jazeera

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a two-day military drill, which included the firing of a ballistic missile carrying a mock nuclear warhead, according to the state news agency KCNA. The exercise was held to familiarize relevant units with the procedures and processes for implementing their tactical nuclear attack missions.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the weekend launches and said that the nuclear force of the DPRK would strongly deter and manage any provocations with high war readiness. The drill was the fourth display of force from Pyongyang in a week and came as South Korea and the US staged their own military manoeuvres, which North Korea views as a hostile act. Last month, the US and South Korea held tabletop exercises simulating North Korea’s nuclear attack.

Pyongyang is banned from testing ballistic missiles under successive UN sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.