North Korea must be prepared to unleash nuclear counterattacks at any time to deter war, leader Kim Jong Un was cited by state media on Monday, as he accused the United States and South Korea of escalating joint military exercises along the country's border.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un's remarks came after "trying to direct" nuclear counterattack simulation drills of operational units simulating a nuclear counterattack against North Korea's enemies over the weekend, which he described as having "greatly improved the actual war capability of the units."

Kim Jong Un Calls for Nuclear Attack Readiness

State media said that a North Korean ballistic missile equipped with a dummy nuclear warhead was launched on Sunday and traveled around 800 kilometers (500 miles) before striking a target at an altitude of 800 meters (0.5 miles) in a nuclear assault scenario.

KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un stated that the exercises helped North Korean forces become "acquainted with all unexpected conditions and more completely equipped to launch a quick and overwhelming nuclear response at any time."

Kim featured in state-run media photographs beside his daughter Kim Ju Ae, stated that it was "crucial to arrange and perform these drills under simulated war situations consistently."

North Korea disclosed their nuclear counterattack simulation after US strategic bombers participated in combined air drills with South Korean forces on Sunday as part of "Freedom Shield," the largest joint military exercise between the two nations.

Photos revealed the launch used a KN-23 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), but unlike previous tests, the engine exhaust looked to be discharged from both sides at the launch, which might indicate a silo was utilized.

According to a defense ministry spokesperson who declined to disclose, the North is making significant technological gains in its nuclear program. Kim Jong Un stated that the exercises enhanced the military's combat capacity and urged the armed forces to be prepared for an "immediate and overwhelming nuclear retaliation at any time."

Per NBC News, Kim was using the abbreviation for the official name of his nation, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. On Sunday, South Korea and Japan reported a launch of a short-range ballistic missile by North Korea off the east coast, the latest in a series of missile tests conducted in recent weeks.

North Korea has responded angrily to the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, labeling it an invasion rehearsal. This month, the partners have conducted exercises, including air and sea operations on Sunday with US B-1B bombers.

Monday will mark the beginning of the US and South Korean fleets' and marine corps' first large-scale Ssangyong amphibious landing drills in five years. The exercises will last for two weeks, until April 3.

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US-South Korea Military Drills

Last month, the United States and South Korea conducted tabletop exercises simulating a nuclear attack by North Korea in response to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's call for greater confidence in US extended deterrence - the United States military capability, particularly its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on its allies.

In a separate dispatch, KCNA stated that more than 1.4 million North Koreans have enlisted or re-enlisted in the military to fight against Seoul and Washington, an increase from the 800,000 reported by a state-run publication just two days before.

Kim's sister warned earlier this month that it would constitute a "clear declaration of war" if North Korean missiles were intercepted during their test launches over the Pacific Ocean. North Korea has responded angrily to the South Korea-US summit. Combined military exercises, referred to as an invasion rehearsal.

Since the beginning of this month, the allies have conducted several of their yearly exercises, including air and sea operations on Sunday involving US forces. Strategic bombers B-1B.

The South Korean Defense Ministry subsequently released photographs of the Sunday drills. Above South Korea, two US Air Force B-1B bombers were flanked above South Korea by F-16 and F-35A aircraft from Seoul.

Daily Mail reported that the exercise has been ongoing for eleven days and is the largest cooperative exercise between the two nations in the past five years. Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, has advocated for more faith in the United States extended deterrence - its military capabilities, particularly nuclear forces, to deter assaults on its allies.

The Freedom Shield exercises began on Monday and will continue for ten days. Allies have stated that the Freedom Shield drills will focus on the "changing security environment" caused by North Korea's renewed aggressiveness.

North Korea regards all such exercises as invasion preparations and has repeatedly vowed to respond with "overwhelming" force. The launch overshadowed the summit between Yoon and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida. At the meeting, both presidents decided to continue defense discussions and bolster trilateral security cooperation with the United States.

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