North Korea has conducted its largest-ever artillery firing exercise on Thursday, targeting a mock-up of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, state media reported. The exercise, which involved hundreds of long-range guns and rocket launchers, was supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, who praised the troops for their combat readiness and accuracy.
The exercise was held at the Wonsan-Kalma coastal area, where North Korea has previously launched missiles and rockets into the sea. The exercise simulated a scenario of an all-out war with South Korea, and aimed to demonstrate North Korea’s ability to strike Seoul and its surrounding areas with a massive barrage of shells. The exercise also coincided with the 109th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea and the grandfather of Kim Jong Un.
The exercise was the latest in a series of weapons tests that North Korea has carried out since late March, after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stalled nuclear diplomacy with the United States. North Korea has fired at least 16 missiles and rockets of various types and ranges, including a new type of short-range ballistic missile that can evade missile defense systems and carry nuclear warheads.
A Message to the Enemies
The exercise was also seen as a message to the United States and South Korea, which have recently resumed their joint military exercises after a pause due to the pandemic. North Korea has denounced the drills as a rehearsal for invasion and a provocation, and has warned of a “crisis beyond control” if they continue.
North Korea has also expressed its frustration with the Biden administration, which has not yet announced its policy review on North Korea and has not responded to its overtures for dialogue. North Korea has said that it will not engage in talks with the United States unless it drops its “hostile policy” and lifts the sanctions that have crippled its economy.
North Korea has also rejected the recent efforts by South Korea to improve inter-Korean relations, which have deteriorated since the collapse of the 2019 summit between Kim Jong Un and former US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. North Korea has accused South Korea of being a “puppet” of the United States and of violating the agreements that the two Koreas signed in 2018 to reduce tensions and promote cooperation.
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A Challenge to the Region
The exercise has raised concerns and criticisms from the regional and international community, which have urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations and to return to the negotiating table. The exercise has also highlighted the security and humanitarian challenges that North Korea poses to the region and the world.
The exercise has demonstrated North Korea’s military capabilities and intentions, which pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and beyond. The exercise has also shown North Korea’s defiance and determination to pursue its nuclear and missile programs, despite the sanctions and the isolation. The exercise has also indicated North Korea’s willingness to escalate the tensions and the risks of a miscalculation or a conflict.
The exercise has also underscored North Korea’s economic and social difficulties, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic and the natural disasters. The exercise has also revealed North Korea’s political and ideological priorities, which place the military and the regime above the welfare and the rights of the people. The exercise has also reflected North Korea’s psychological and emotional state, which is driven by fear and pride.
