North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw an artillery firing drill near the South Korean capital, Seoul, in a move that comes amid escalating tensions with the U.S. and Washington’s Asian allies. The state media KCNA reported on Friday that Kim directed the artillery firing drill by the Korean People’s Army, which took place on Thursday and involved units near the border within firing range of Seoul, a city with nearly 10 million residents.
The drill was described by KCNA as fulfilling “important military missions for war deterrence.” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that North Korea test-fired multiple rocket launcher shells and self-propelled artillery shells toward the Yellow Sea on Thursday. The JCS is closely monitoring North Korea’s military activities as joint drills by South Korean and U.S. militaries, known as the Freedom Shield exercises, are currently underway with double the number of troops compared to the previous year.
Kim urged the military to continue preparations so that the artillery sub-units could take the initiative with “merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war.” The recent artillery firing drill is the latest in a series of military demonstrations by North Korea in response to joint military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea, which North Korea views as a threat.
These drills follow a series of missile launches by North Korea, heightening security concerns in the region. Kim has also made bold statements, asserting his legal right to annihilate South Korea. The recent military exercises and missile launches have raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
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