Kim Jong Un Observes North Korea's Initial 'Nuclear Trigger' Simulation Training

 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a drill simulating what Pyongyang is calling a nuclear counterattack involving multiple rocket launchers. It comes a day after South Korea said the north fired short-range missiles into the East sea. 

The missiles flew around 300 kilometers from the Pyongyang area, splashing down east of the Korean Peninsula. This marks Pyongyang's second launch in less than a week. Let's bring in Unis Kim in the South Korean capital Seoul. 

The country's artillery forces are joining their exercises. What do we know about the drills to simulate the so-called nuclear trigger system? Elizabeth, we know North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been trying to make all kinds of missiles that are nuclear-capable and run on solid fuel. 

North Korea confirmed today that the suspected short-range ballistic missiles flagged by Tokyo and Seoul on Monday were indeed these super large artillery measuring around 600 mm, which are cheaper to produce than short-range ballistic missiles. Due to technological progress, North Korea can now launch them long distances, around 300 kilometers, theoretically putting many of South Korea's military targets within range.

 The rocket launchers were part of a drill to test the reliability of North Korea's command and control center of its nuclear force, dubbed the "he P" or nuclear trigger in Korean. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff pushed back on North Korea's claim of possessing small-sized tactical nuclear weapons, stating that if North Korea were to send any of these artillery towards South Korea, they would be intercepted. Despite this, the state news agency described the drill as a clear warning to North Korea's enemies. Why did the country carry out these drills? 

These enemies presumably refer to South Korea and the US, which are engaged in a large-scale aerial exercise at Kunsan Airbase set to run on Friday. The exercise involves around 100 warplanes, including the F-35 stealth fighter jets, which Pyongyang dislikes.

 Seoul suggests another possibility is that North Korea is showcasing its artillery to potentially attract business from states like Iran, as North Korea has previously sent weaponry to support Russia's involvement in Ukraine. Thank you, Unis Kim, reporting live from Seoul.