North Korea claims artillery and missile drills
North Korea said it conducted joint drills involving long-range artillery and missile units on September 12. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported this after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch of several short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, Korea Herald reports.
Weapons used in the drills
According to the North Korean agency, the drills involved units selected from five artillery and missile force formations. The maneuvers used various types of strike drones, tactical cruise missiles, large-caliber thermobaric multiple rocket launchers, and tactical ballistic missiles.
Pyongyang said that all strike systems hit their targets with 100% accuracy. North Korea also claims that the drills demonstrated the coordination and simultaneity of the fire strike. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend the drills; they were observed by Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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Yu Chang Son, head of the military's artillery department, said the drills are intended to improve the level of training for striking enemy armed forces and pledged to strengthen readiness for counterattacks through practical training.
Launches after Freedom Edge
The launches on September 12 marked North Korea's 13th ballistic missile launch since the beginning of the year. South Korea assessed the launched missiles as short-range Hwasong-11 series missiles, as well as projectiles fired from super-large 600-mm multiple rocket launchers.
On September 11, South Korea, the United States, and Japan completed the five-day Freedom Edge exercise in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island. North Korean Defense Minister Kim Son Gi criticized the maneuvers and warned that Pyongyang would take “strong countermeasures” against what he called U.S.-led military provocations.
