North Korea Fires Missiles in Response to US-South Korea Military Drills

North Korea launched a series of missiles on Sunday, claiming that they were testing a new weapon system capable of delivering nuclear warheads. The launch was seen as a show of force and a protest against the recent joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, which Pyongyang views as a threat.

The US and South Korea conducted the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills from August 16 to 26, involving air, land, sea, and cyber forces. The drills featured B-1B bombers, naval ships, paratroopers, the US space command, and cyber attack units. The exercises were aimed at enhancing the readiness and interoperability of the allies in case of a conflict with North Korea.

North Korea denounced the drills as a rehearsal for war and warned of a “second Korean War” if they continued. On Thursday, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea, demonstrating its ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan. On Sunday, North Korea fired three more missiles, claiming that they were testing a new “long-range cruise missile that could carry nuclear warheads.

According to North Korea’s state media, the missiles flew for over two hours and hit targets 1,500 kilometers away. The media said that the test was successful and that the new weapon system was a “strategic weapon of great significance” that enhanced North Korea’s deterrence and self-defense capabilities.

However, South Korea’s military expressed doubts over North Korea’s claims, saying that not all of the missiles were successful and that they were not new. A senior official of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff told Yonhap news agency that the missiles were similar to those that North Korea had tested before and that some of them failed to reach their intended targets.

The missile launches by North Korea have raised tensions in the region and drawn condemnation from the international community. The US, South Korea, Japan, and the UN have urged North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and return to dialogue on denuclearization. The US has also reaffirmed its commitment to defend its allies and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.