North Korea says it fired missiles as part of 'nuclear strike drill'

North Korea says it fired two missiles as part of ‘tactical nuclear strike drill’ to ‘send a clear message to its enemies’

• Two short-range ballistic missiles were fire late on Wednesday evening  

North Korea has said it fired two missiles as part of a ‘tactical nuclear strike drill’ to ‘send a clear message to its enemies’.

The country’s state media confirmed Pyongyang fire the short-range ballistic missiles late Wednesday following US-South Korean military exercises.

The Korean Central News Agency said the launch was a ‘tactical nuclear strike drill simulating scorched earth strikes at major command centers and operational airfields’.

The army added in a statement that ‘the drill is aimed to send a clear message to the enemies’ in what they deemed as a ‘warning’ against the United States deployment of strategic bombers to the region. 

South Korea’s military had flagged the missile launch yesterday, which took place hours after the US had deployed B-1B bombers part of an allied air drill.

North Korea has said it fired two missiles as part of a ‘tactical nuclear strike drill’ to ‘send a clear message to its enemies’ following US-South Korean military exercises 

The country’s state media confirmed Pyongyang fire the short-range ballistic missiles late Wednesday following US-South Korean military exercises

The missiles traveled at a distance of 400km (250 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50km (30 mile) before falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone

The missiles traveled at a distance of 400km (250 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50km (30 mile) before falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.  

‘Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional provocations, and is maintaining full readiness through close cooperation between Korea and the United States,’ South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

They went on to call the launch a ‘grave provocation’ that threatens international peace and violates UN Security Council resolutions.

Japan’s defence ministry also confirmed that at least one missile had been launched. 

The launch came a day before the US and South Korea were due to end 11 days of combined military drills which have been denounced by Pyongyang.

The White House said on it had said earlier that new intelligence that showed Russian President Vladimir Putin had exchanged notes with Kim Jong Un, as Russia looks to North Korea for munitions for his war in Ukraine. 

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby detailed the findings weeks after the White House revealed Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu had visted Pyongyang.  

Mr Kirby said that Russia is looking for additional artillery shells and other military equipment to shore up Russia’s defence industrial base.

The provocation came a day before the US and South Korea were due to end 11 days of combined military drills which have been denounced by Pyongyang

It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin had exchanged notes with Kim Jong Un, as Russia looks to North Korea for munitions for his war in Ukraine

Any Russian-North Korean arms deals would violate UN Security Council resolutions

The letters exchanged were said to be ‘more at the surface level’ but showed that Russian and North Korean talks on a weapons sale were advancing.

The Biden administration has repeatedly made the case that the Kremlin has become reliant on North Korea, as well as Iran, for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine.

North Korea and Iran are largely isolated on the international stage for their nuclear programmes and human rights records.

In March, the White House said it had gathered intelligence that showed that Russia was looking to broker a food-for-arms deal with North Korea, in which Moscow would provide the North with food and other commodities in return for munitions.

Late last year the White House said it had determined that the Wagner Group private Russian military company had taken delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster its forces fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

Both North Korea and Russia have previously denied the US allegations about weapons.

North Korea, however, has sided with Russia over the war in Ukraine, saying the ‘hegemonic policy’ of the US-led West has forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests.

At the United Nations on Wednesday, the US, the UK, South Korea and Japan urged North Korea to halt arms negotiations with Russia.

Any Russian-North Korean arms deals would violate UN Security Council resolutions, backed by Russia, that prohibit all countries from buying or obtaining any arms from the North, the four countries said in a joint statement.

‘This sends the wrong message to aspiring proliferators that if you sell Russia arms, Russia will even enable your pursuit of nuclear weapons,’ according to the statement that was read by US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who was flanked by diplomats from the three other countries.

Kim has been pushing to enlarge and modernise his weapons arsenals, as experts say he wants to force the US to make concessions when diplomacy resumes. 

Since 2022, his military has conducted more than 100 weapons tests – some using nuclear-capable missiles.

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