North Korea conducted the first test of a “nuclear trigger” control system, observed by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un, North Korean media reported on Tuesday.
The main purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the “reliability and superiority” of North Korea’s nuclear forces, as well as a warning signal to the US and South Korea, KCNA reported.
Praising the readiness of tactical nuclear weapons, Kim expressed satisfaction with the results of the drills, KCNA added.
Before Monday’s missile launch, soldiers practiced “the procedure and process of switching over to a nuclear counterattack posture in a scenario where the “Hwasan (Volcano) Alert,” the state’s highest nuclear crisis alert [level], is issued.”
Parts of the drills involved “operating the nuclear counterattack command system” and practicing “the process and order” of setting up 600mm MLRS transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicles with rockets “tipped with simulated nuclear warheads.” The state media reported:
“Through the drill, the reliability of the system of command, management, control and operation of the whole nuclear force was re-examined in a multifaceted way, and the action order and combat methods for making the super-large multiple rocket units rapidly switch over to nuclear counterattack were mastered.”
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday it detected launches from North Korea’s capital region, but provided no further details.
Last week, Pyongyang conducted a “powerful test of an extra-large warhead” for a strategic cruise missile and tested a new anti-aircraft missile, KCNA reported.
