North Korea stages mock nuclear counterattack drills

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen drills that simulate a nuclear counterattack against the US and South Korea in a warning to the allies who are scaling up their joint military exercises, state media KCNA said on Monday.

The North s drills involved a short-range missile launch but — unusually — the missile flew from a silo that analysts say would help improve the country's war deterrence and nuclear counterattack capability, accusing Washington and Seoul of making an explicit attempt to unleash a war against it.

KCNA said the drill was meant to demonstrate our tougher will to make an actual war response and send a stronger warning to the enemy who expands their war drills for aggression.

A ballistic missile equipped with a mock nuclear warhead flew 497 miles before hitting a target in the scenario of a tactical nuclear attack, KCNA said.

KCNA photos showed Kim attending the test, again with his young daughter, as flames roared from the soaring missile before it hit the target.

The photos suggested the launch involved a KN-23 short-range ballistic missile SRBM, but unlike previous tests, the engine exhaust appeared to be vented either side at the moment of liftoff, which could mean a silo was used, according to analysts.

Since North Korea has preferred mobile launchers for everything from SRBMs to even huge ICBMs, it was difficult to guarantee the stability of the missile during actual operations, said Yang Uk, a fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. The latest launch could possibly serve as a test for future launches of larger missiles like the Hwasong 17 ICBM in a silo. South Korea spokesman said the North is making significant technological advances in its nuclear program but did not elaborate.

Kim said the exercises improved military's war capability and urged the military to stand ready for any immediate and overwhelming nuclear counterattack anytime. The present situation, where the enemies are getting more pronounced in their moves for aggression against the DPRK, requires the DPRK to bolster its nuclear war deterrence exponentially, KCNA quoted as saying.

Kim was using the acronym of his country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

He said that the DPRK will heavily deter, control, and manage the enemy's reckless moves and provocations with high war readiness, and carry out its important mission in case of any unwanted situation.

South Korea and Japan reported the launch of a North Korean short-range ballistic missile off the east coast on Sunday, the latest in a series of missile tests in recent weeks.

North Korea has reacted furiously to South Korea-U. S. combined military drills, calling them a rehearsal for an invasion against it.

The allies have been carrying out exercises this month, including air and sea drills on Sunday involving U.S. B-1 B bombers.

The U.S. and South Korea navies and marine corps are about to kick off their first large-scale Ssangyong amphibious landing exercises in five years on Monday for a two-week run until April 3.

Last month, the two countries staged tabletop exercises modeled on North Korea's nuclear attack, amid South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol s push for more confidence in the U.S. extended deterrence - its military capability, especially nuclear forces, to deter attacks on its allies.

More than 800,000 North Koreans have volunteered to join or re-enlist in the military to fight against Seoul and Washington, according to a report from a state newspaper just two days ago.