North Korea Holds Live-Fire Drill as South Korea Tracks Ballistic Missile Launches
North Korea showcased missiles, artillery and drones in a live-fire drill after South Korea detected ballistic missile launches from the North.
North Korea said it conducted a joint live-fire exercise involving missiles, artillery and drones, highlighting its military capabilities as tensions with South Korea and stalled diplomacy with the United States continue.
The drill was held on Saturday, shortly after South Korea detected several short-range ballistic missile launches from North Korea’s eastern coastal area near Wonsan. Seoul said the missiles travelled roughly 250 kilometres towards the country’s eastern waters, suggesting they were designed to reach targets in South Korea.
North Korea’s state media said the exercise was aimed at improving troops’ ability to operate an integrated firepower control system. Marshal Pak Jong Chon, who observed the drill, said the exercise demonstrated the destructive potential of concentrated firepower.
The launches were North Korea’s first publicly reported ballistic missile activity in around three weeks. Independent verification of Pyongyang’s claims about its weapons tests remains difficult.
The exercise comes as efforts to revive US-North Korea diplomacy remain stalled. US President Donald Trump recently reduced the scale of a major military exercise with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang, however, rejected the move and maintained that the drills remained provocative.
With North Korea expanding its nuclear capabilities and strengthening ties with Russia and China, analysts believe Kim may feel he has greater leverage in future negotiations with Washington.
