SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of short-range ballistic missile systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against U.S. and South Korean forces, state media said Friday, as the North continued to blame its rivals for escalating tensions through their joint military exercises.
The report came a day after from North Korea鈥檚 eastern coast and assessed that the tests could also be related to the country鈥檚 weapons exports to Russia during its war in Ukraine.
North Korea鈥檚 official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday鈥檚 tests involved a mobile , as well as 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers that South Korean officials classify as ballistic due to their self-propulsion and guided flight. Both are part of a growing lineup of weapons systems that the North says could be armed with 鈥渢actical鈥 nuclear weapons for battlefield use.
KCNA said the tests were intended to train military units operating missile and rocket systems to more effectively execute attacks under the North鈥檚 nuclear weapons control system and ensure a swift response to a nuclear crisis.
The agency criticized the United States and its 鈥渧assal states鈥 for expanding joint military exercises on and around the Korean Peninsula, which the North claims are preparations for nuclear war, and said Thursday鈥檚 launches demonstrated the 鈥渞apid counteraction posture鈥 of its forces.
Kim stressed the need to strengthen the role of his nuclear forces in both deterring and fighting war, and called for continued efforts to improve combat readiness and precision strike capabilities, KCNA said.
South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple missiles of various types were launched from the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan on Thursday from about 8:10 to 9:20 a.m., with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometers (497 miles).
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the North Korean missiles reached Japan鈥檚 exclusive economic zone and there was no damage to vessels or aircraft in the area.
It was the North鈥檚 first known ballistic activity since March 10, when it fired several ballistic missiles hours after U.S. and South Korean troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the country鈥檚 sixth launch event of the year.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to accelerate the development of his nuclear and missile program and supply weapons and troops to support Russia鈥檚 war against Ukraine.
Thursday鈥檚 launch came a day after North Korean state media said amid his deepening alignment with Moscow.
