Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally supervised artillery exercises conducted by units in the country’s western region, as reported by the state-run KCNA news agency on Tuesday.
The revelation comes on the heels of the conclusion of one of the largest annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. This development unfolds amidst heightened tensions with Seoul and Washington, coinciding with the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea.
Known for its possession of nuclear weapons, North Korea routinely denounces such military exercises as rehearsals for invasion. In response to the joint drills, Pyongyang has issued fiery rhetoric and conducted live-fire exercises.
Blinken’s visit appears to have exacerbated tensions further. The announcement of artillery drills followed a day after South Korea reported that North Korea had test-fired three short-range ballistic missiles. Analysts view this move as a calculated attempt to draw attention during Blinken’s visit to the region.
Read More: Gaza on Brink of Catastrophic Famine, Urgent Action Needed: Report
According to the KCNA report, the drills involved the use of “super-large multiple rocket launchers.” Soldiers, upon receiving the order, “simultaneously fired the gun of annihilation”, unleashing a barrage of firepower.
Describing the scene, the report vividly depicts the firing of “massive shells” from the rocket launchers, likening them to “lava” as they streaked toward their targets with the intent of annihilating the enemy. Additionally, the drills included a simulation of an “air explosion” produced by the impact of a shell from the rocket launcher.
Blinken, currently attending the third Summit for Democracy, held early discussions with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol upon his arrival in Seoul on Monday. He is also scheduled to meet with his South Korean counterpart, with discussions likely to revolve around joint efforts to address threats emanating from North Korea.
Seoul remains a key regional ally of the United States, with approximately 27,000 American soldiers stationed in South Korea to bolster its defense against the North.
Pyongyang has issued warnings this month, asserting that Seoul and Washington would face consequences for their military exercises. Furthermore, North Korea announced that Kim Jong Un had personally overseen an artillery unit capable of striking the South Korean capital.
The ballistic missile test conducted on Monday marks North Korea’s second such test this year, following a previous launch featuring a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14th.
