Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a joint striking drill involving long-range artillery and a new variant of tactical ballistic missiles while emphasizing the combat readiness of its nuclear forces, state media reported Friday, a day after the country launched multiple ballistic missiles.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the drill was aimed at familiarizing military units with the weapons' operations, and the test-fire verified the reliability of the command and mobilization system to quickly react during a nuclear crisis, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The drill involved a 600-millimeter multilayer rocket system and the Hwasongpho-11-Ka tactical ballistic missile, according to the KCNA.
Kim stressed the need to steadily enhance the pivotal role of the nuclear force in all aspects of the strategy to deter war and the strategy to fight war. He stated, according to the KCNA report, "It is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force."
Between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. on Thursday, South Korea's military detected the launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles of various types from the North's eastern coastal city of Wonsan, marking the fourth ballistic missile test by the country so far this year.
The South Korean military speculated that the launch may have been part of a performance test linked to North Korea's arms transactions with Russia.