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Experts claim that the recent missile launches, supervised by Kim Jong Un, indicate that North Korea is planning to conduct its first nuclear weapons test since 2017.
North Korea's latest missile launches signify a stern warning after South Korean, and United States navy maneuvers, state news agency KCNA reported Monday.
According to reports from South Korean and Japanese officials, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles early on Sunday, making it the seventh launch since September 25. as per a report from Reuters.
KCNA said that the North Korean ruling Workers' Party decided to hold the drills in reaction to the massive mobilization of US and South Korean naval assets, including an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine.
The news agency said that Kim Jong Un led nuclear strategic unit drills using ballistic missiles with simulated nuclear weapons over the last two weeks to send a powerful message of war deterrence.
The North Korea Missile Tests reportedly emulated attacks on Southern military command centers, major ports, and airports. It has also demonstrated the "effectiveness, preparedness, and practical combat capability" of the North Korean nuclear combat force to attack "any time from any location."
KCNA quoted Kim: "Even if the enemy persists in talking about dialogue and negotiations, we do not have anything to talk about and do not see the need to do so."
North Korea Views US-South Korea Military Drills as Preparation for Invasion
While the United States and South Korea maintain that their joint military exercises are defensive, North Korea views them as invasion rehearsals.
More frequent military drills between the United States and South Korea have increased security concerns for Kim's regime since a conservative government took office in Seoul in May, according to AP News.
Kim supervised the North Korea Missile Tests that saw launches of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile under a dam in the northeast, other ballistic missiles prepared to launch nuclear attacks on South Korean airfields, ports, and command facilities, and a new-type ground-to-ground ballistic missile that soared over Japan, KCNA claimed.
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It was reported that North Korea conducted its first-ever live firing and other drills using 150 planes.
South Korean private think tank Sejong Institute researcher Cheong Seong-Chang reported that North Korea had conducted its first-ever training involving army forces charged with operating tactical nuclear weapons in conjunction with the missile launches.
Increasing Concerns on North Korea's Nuclear Threat
According to reports from the US and South Korea, North Korea is considering conducting its first nuclear test in five years. It may also use this occasion to demonstrate a smaller tactical device, the type that can be carried in the missiles it has been developing, for the first time, experts warn.
North Korea has been an "irreversible" nuclear state since last month when KimJong-un changed the country's laws to allow for the use of nuclear weapons in self-defense. The prior policy limited the employment of such weapons to defensive situations.
It has also significantly increased the rate at which it fires missiles, with over 40 missile launches this year.
Analysts believe it will be more difficult to destroy the weapons in an attack if the North tests-fires them this year from various launch sites, including trains and convoys, per BBC.
State media sources on Monday called the latest launches "tactical nuclear operations units" rather than missile tests, implying North Korea has created a method of using s short-range nuclear weapons.
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