North Korean dictator oversees simulated 'nuclear counterattack' on the US and South Korea
2023 is shaping up to be a year of major political tensions not only in the United States, but also, around the world. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought about the worst fighting in Europe since World War 2. And in Asia, the Biden Administration is keeping a close eye on allies ranging from Taiwan to South Korea.
U.S. officials have been monitoring the situation in Taiwan, fearing possible aggression against Taiwan from the government in Mainland China. Meanwhile, another area of concern is North Korea and the communist country's dictator Kim Jong Un.
Reuters reports that on Monday, March 20, KCNA (the North Korean government's official news agency) said that Jong Un had overseen "drills simulating a nuclear counterattack against the U.S. and South Korea." The exercises, according to Reuters, had been carried out over the weekend on March 18 and 19.
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KCNA said that "the drill also aimed to demonstrate our tougher will to make an actual war response and send a stronger warning to the enemy who expand their war drills for aggression."
Yang Uk of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (a think tank based in Seoul, South Korea) found the tests alarming and told Reuters, "Until now, North Korea has preferred mobile launchers for everything from SRBMs to even huge ICBMs, but given its poor road and system conditions, it was difficult to guarantee the stability of the missile during actual operations. The latest launch might possibly serve as a test for future launches of larger missiles like the Hwasong-17 ICBM in a silo."
Read Reuters' full report at this link.
