North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a series of drills, involving new
"very large"
multiple rocket launchers , state news agency KCNA said Tuesday.
This announcement came during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea, in a context of tensions with Seoul and Washington.
These North Korean exercises also come a few days after the end of major US-South Korean military exercises.
South Korea said Pyongyang launched several ballistic missiles on Monday, which traveled some 300 kilometers before crashing into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the large rocket launchers, called KN-25 by the militaries of Seoul and Washington, propel short-range ballistic missiles.
They can be equipped with a tactical nuclear warhead, Pyongyang says.
The North Korean leader supervised these exercises on Monday, testing the
“real war capabilities”
of these weapons, KCNA said.
The exercises also consisted of simulating the aerial explosion of a shell from a very large multiple rocket launcher at a predetermined altitude above the target, according to the North Korean agency.
Kim Jong Un said the multiple rocket launcher would help the North
"block and suppress the possibility of war with perfect and constant preparation to collapse the enemy's capital
. "
according to KCNA.
Also read: A South Korean island in Kim Jong-un’s sights
Deterrence facing the North
“Large” rockets were fired into North Korea on March 18.
KCNA / REUTERS
During the exercise,
“massive shells from very large multiple rocket launchers”
“ flew
towards the target with the flame of annihilation of the enemy”
, detailed the North Korean agency.
Images published by state media showed the reclusive country's leader, dressed in his usual black leather jacket, observing the exercises with his generals and celebrating their apparent success by raising his fist.
Antony Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday to participate in the third
“Summit for Democracy”
, an initiative by United States President Joe Biden, and which Seoul is hosting from Monday to Wednesday.
Government officials, NGOs and members of civil society are present.
Kim Jong Un watches the rocket fire.
KCNA / REUTERS
The American Secretary of State also met his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul and discussed strengthening the alliance between Washington and Seoul, as part of a policy of “
extended deterrence”
against the North.
On Thursday, Seoul and Washington concluded their annual large-scale
“Freedom Shield”
exercises , including missile interception and air assaults.
The number of troops participating has been doubled compared to 2023.
Pyongyang warned in early March that the United States and South Korea would pay a
"high price"
for the maneuvers before announcing that Mr. Kim had overseen a large-scale artillery exercise including, it said, border units
“who put the capital of the enemy within their reach”
.