North Korea showcases latest weapons in major military drills

North Korea conducted joint drills involving long-range artillery and missile units on September 12, with all strike weapons reportedly hitting their targets with 100 per cent accuracy and demonstrating what state media described as the “enormous destructive power of precision strikes”.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the exercises involved units from five artillery and missile formations. The North Korean military deployed its latest weapons systems, including attack drones, strategic cruise missiles, large-calibre multiple rocket launchers and tactical ballistic missiles.

Major General Yu Chang Son said one of the objectives of the drills was to improve the automation of command and control of combat systems. He added that North Korea would continue strengthening its readiness to launch counterstrikes.

On September 12, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea had launched several ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The missiles travelled approximately 250 kilometres.

Yonhap News Agency reported that the launches came a day after the completion of joint military exercises involving South Korea, the United States and Japan.

By Vugar Khalilov