SEOUL, Sept 14 - North Korea carried out a live-fire drill aimed at testing long-range artillery and missile units, state-run media reported on Monday. The exercise, characterized by the agency as a 'joint firepower attack drill,' took place on Saturday and involved five army units, officials said.
According to the state report, the staged operations assessed the performance of multiple weapon systems. The list of systems cited included various attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and large-caliber multiple rocket launchers.
The state agency quoted an artillery director who said the drill would strengthen troop morale and sharpen their ability to 'completely collapse the enemy' immediately when ordered.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff separately reported that, on Saturday, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast. That action was reported as occurring ahead of a joint military exercise conducted by South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Details of the exercise
- The exercise was described as a 'joint firepower attack drill' involving five army units.
- Weapon systems tested included attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and large-caliber multiple rocket launchers.
- State media cited an artillery director saying the drill would boost morale and operational readiness with the capability to 'completely collapse the enemy' when ordered.
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several short-range ballistic missiles were launched toward the sea off North Korea's east coast; this preceded a trilateral exercise among South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Observations and limitations
The publicly released accounts provide specific claims about the units, weapon systems involved, and the stated purpose of the drill as reported by state media. Official military reporting from South Korea confirms missile launches directed toward offshore waters and notes the timing relative to a separate joint exercise by South Korea, Japan and the United States. Beyond those statements, the available reports do not provide further operational details, indications of targets, or assessments of damage.
Closing
Officials' statements in each account form the factual record of the events described. Additional details have not been provided in the available reports.