North Korea on Monday (October 10) released photographs of leader Kim Jong Un observing a missile launch after two weeks during which the country fired several ballistic missiles.
The KCNA state news agency said the North Korean leader had guided recent exercises by nuclear tactical operation units in response to large-scale navy drills by South Korean and U.S. forces, which have escalated regional tensions.
Over the past two weeks, North Korea carried out exercises involving ballistic missiles with mock nuclear warheads, KCNA reported, saying it was to deliver a strong message of war deterrence. They were conducted to target enemy airfields and key ports, it added.
KCNA said North Korea's ruling Workers' Party decided to conduct the drills as an unavoidable response to a large-scale mobilisation of U.S. and South Korean naval forces, including an aircraft carrier and a nuclear powered submarine.
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early on Sunday (October 9), officials in Seoul and Tokyo said, making it the seventh such launch since Sept. 25.