North Korean Missile Tests Were Simulated Nuclear Attack To ‘Wipe Out’ South Korea, State Media Says

Topline

North Korea on Monday said its latest volley of missile tests were designed to simulate a nuclear strike on South Korea, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), escalating tensions in the region and further dampening hopes of disarming the rogue state through diplomacy and sanctions.

Key Facts

Pyongyang said the seven tests launched since September 25 drilled hitting South Korean targets with tactical nuclear weapons, which are smaller, short-range warheads designed for use on the battlefield or in limited strikes.

The mock strikes successfully simulated hits to airports, ports and military bases in South Korea, KCNA said.

The trials constitute a “severe warning” to North Korea’s enemies and illustrate the country’s ability to “hit and wipe out” possible South Korean targets, KCNA said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the trials, KCNA reported, and the outlet published images of Kim “guiding” the tests.

Kim reportedly ordered the simulations in response to joint military drills in the region between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, KCNA reported.

News Peg

North Korea regularly tests its weapons by launching ballistic missiles into the ocean. The series of drills conducted in recent weeks continue this habit, though their nature escalated tensions and drew sharp condemnation from world leaders. One test in particular in early October sparked concern and evacuation orders in Japan after a missile flew over one of its islands. A joint live-fire missile drill involving the U.S. and South Korea—intended as a collective show of strength in protest of the recent North Korean tests—backfired when a rocket malfunctioned and crashed into a coastal military base.

What To Watch For

Pyongyang is widely expected to conduct a nuclear weapons test in the near future. Experts believe there is little hope diplomacy and global sanctions—which already cripple the state’s economy—will be sufficient to get Pyongyang to disarm. North Korea last tested a nuclear bomb in 2017 and experts believe recent missile tests indicate the regime has been pursuing smaller warheads.

Surprising Fact

Only a handful of states have relinquished nuclear weapons once they have acquired them. Only one nation, South Africa, gave them up after developing the weapons themselves. Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus inherited weapons when the Soviet Union fell and later returned them to Russia. A total of nine countries, including North Korea, are known or credibly suspected to possess nuclear weapons today. Most—around 90%—are owned by Russia and the U.S., according to an estimate by the Federation of American Scientists.

Further Viewing

Key Background

North Korea’s dogged pursuit of nuclear weapons is a key factor driving the country’s continued and deepening isolation on the international stage. Efforts to pressure Pyongyang to disarm through years of heavy diplomacy and punishing sanctions have had little success and the regime insists nuclear weapons are vital to protect its national interests, especially against the nuclear-armed U.S. Kim doubled down on the nation’s commitment to nuclear weapons in September and stressed its status as a nuclear power is non-negotiable. Lawmakers officially enshrined the right to preemptively strike against enemies with nuclear weapons and to issue automatic retaliatory strikes if North Korean leadership is targeted. Kim’s rhetoric sparked consternation among world leaders and analysts condemned the policies as dangerous and potentially raising the risk of catastrophic miscalculation.

Further Reading

North Korea Denies Selling Weapons To Moscow As Russia’s Isolation Grows (Forbes)

‘North Korea has already won’: US urged to abandon denuclearisation ‘farce’ (FT)

North Korea: What missiles does it have? (BBC)