Kim Jong Un oversaw ‘strike drill’ to test accuracy of North Korea’s long-range rocket launchers

North Korea conducted a ‘strike drill’ for multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons into the East Sea in a military drill supervised by leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday, the North’s state media reported on Sunday.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim expressed “great satisfaction” over Saturday’s drills and stressed that his front-line troops should keep a “high alert posture” and enhance combat ability to “defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance of the country.” 

‘The purpose of the drill was to estimate and inspect the operating ability and the accuracy of striking duty performance of large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons by defense units in the frontline area and on the eastern front,’ the agency said.

The statement implied that the latest firing was not the long-range ballistic missiles that have been seen as a threat to the United States. 

Kim Jong Un ordered the firing of several missiles from as North Korea on Saturday

Purpose of the drill was to estimate and inspect operating ability and accuracy of striking duty performance of large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers

Purpose of the drill was to estimate and inspect operating ability and accuracy of striking duty performance of large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers

State agency said he stressed the need to 'increase the combat ability so as to defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance' of North Korea

State agency said he stressed the need to ‘increase the combat ability so as to defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance’ of North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Kumyagang Power Station No. 2 in North Korea in this May 4, 2019 photo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Kumyagang Power Station No. 2 in North Korea in this May 4, 2019 photo

Action from the frontline and eastern front came in the 'face of threats and invasion'

Action from the frontline and eastern front came in the ‘face of threats and invasion’

Missiles from Hodo peninsula flew for between 70km and 200km before landing in the sea, according to Yonhap News Agency. 

The agency stated they were fired in the northeast direction from the city of Wonsan between 9.06am and 9.27am.

Projectiles North Korea on Saturday fired were described as ‘several unidentified short-range missiles’.

Experts said it was likely sign of Pyongyang’s growing frustration at stalled diplomatic talks with Washington over its nuclear arsenal.

On Saturday morning President Donald Trump said he still has faith in de-nuclearization negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, even after the country fired a barrage of projectiles into the sea. 

The country launched tactical guided weapons by defense units, the state agency said

The country launched tactical guided weapons by defense units, the state agency said

North Korean military conducts a "strike drill" for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea during a military drill in North Korea

North Korean military conducts a ‘strike drill’ for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea during a military drill in North Korea

The state agency implied that the latest firing was not the long-range ballistic missiles that have been seen as a threat to the United States

The state agency implied that the latest firing was not the long-range ballistic missiles that have been seen as a threat to the United States

North Korean military conducts a "strike drill" for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea

North Korean military conducts a ‘strike drill’ for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea

‘Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it,’ Trump tweeted on Saturday morning, while en route to Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia from the White House. 

‘He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!’ the president added.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders earlier said in a statement: ‘We are aware of North Korea’s actions tonight. We will continue to monitor as necessary.’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Kumyagang Power Station No. 2 in North Korea in this May 4, 2019 photo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Kumyagang Power Station No. 2 in North Korea in this May 4, 2019 photo

The firing comes amid a diplomatic breakdown that has followed the failed summit earlier this year between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the North’s pursuit of nuclear bombs that can accurately target the US mainland. 

Their summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in February ended without an agreement on weapons dismantlement and sanctions relief.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korean missiles have not reached anywhere near the country’s coast and that Japan is not facing any security threat.

The ministry said it has not detected signs that any of the North Korean short-range missiles fired Saturday have reached in or around Japan’s territory or its 200-nautical-mile (320-kilometer) exclusive economic zone.

It said at this point Japan does not face a situation that would pose any immediate risk to its national security.

Japan is seen as avoiding any harsh response as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks to secure a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 

The firing Saturday comes amid a diplomatic breakdown that has followed the failed summit earlier this year between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un over the North's pursuit of a nuclear arsenal that can target the US mainland

The firing Saturday comes amid a diplomatic breakdown that has followed the failed summit earlier this year between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un over the North’s pursuit of a nuclear arsenal that can target the US mainland

Last month Pyongyang said it was testing a ‘tactical guided weapon’ conducted in ‘various modes of firing at different targets’. They demanded that Washington remove Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from nuclear negotiations.

Pompeo and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha agreed to ‘cautiously respond’ to the latest firing and to continue communications during a phone call on Saturday, South Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Pompeo also held talks with Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and agreed, together with South Korea, to cooperate and share information, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

North Korea has claimed to have ballistic missiles that could reach the US mainland. The country also says it has developed a nuclear bomb small enough to fit on a long-range missile.   

‘The North wanted to deliver a message on security guarantees to Washington through the mouth of Putin, but the summit fell short of driving change in the U.S. attitude, leading the North to take stronger action today,’ said Hong Min, a senior researcher of Korea Institute for National Unification. 

Japan's Defense Ministry said at this point Japan does not face a situation that would pose any immediate risk to its national security. In Tokyo people walk past a screen showing a TV news on unidentified short-range projectiles fired by North Korea

Japan’s Defense Ministry said at this point Japan does not face a situation that would pose any immediate risk to its national security. In Tokyo people walk past a screen showing a TV news on unidentified short-range projectiles fired by North Korea

‘With North Korea never promising to completely stop all missile testing – it only promised a self-imposed moratorium of testing long-range missiles such as ICBMs that can hit the US homeland – we should not be shocked by North Korea’s short-range launch,’ Korean studies director at the Washington-based Center for the National Interest, Harry J. Kazianis, said. 

‘Clearly, Pyongyang is frustrated with the conclusion of the recent summit with Washington in Vietnam that did not produce any breakthrough. It also seems clear that North Korea is angry over what appears to be a lack of flexibility in the Trump Administration’s position on relieving sanctions, sticking to a policy of ‘maximum pressure’.’  

During the diplomacy that followed a rocky 2017, Kim Jong Un said that the North would not test nuclear devices or ICBMs.

However satellite images last month indicated radioactive material could be being turned into bomb fuel. 

Japan¿s Defense Ministry said North Korean missiles have not reached in or around Japan¿s territory or its 200-nautical-mile (320-kilometer) exclusive economic zone

Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korean missiles have not reached in or around Japan’s territory or its 200-nautical-mile (320-kilometer) exclusive economic zone

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