Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.

DPRK stages first 'nuclear trigger' drills amid US-S.Korea air drill

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Apr 2024 07:18
3 Min Read

State-run KCNA says Kim Jong Un "guided a combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack involving super-large multiple rocket artillerymen."

  • x
  • Kim
    This picture taken on April 22, 2024, and released by the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on April 23, 2024, shows DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (C) observing a virtual nuclear counterattack training exercise with a large "rocket artillery" unit, at an undisclosed location in the DPRK. (AFP)

The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, has overseen the country's first-ever "nuclear trigger" drills, which involved simulating a nuclear counterattack as a warning to enemies, state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed Tuesday.

The agency reported that the drills showcased the DPRK's "nuclear trigger" management system for the first time, indicating that this was the country's combined control system for its nuclear weapons.

The drills took place on Monday, according to the report. Seoul's military had earlier announced that Pyongyang had fired several short-range ballistic missiles that day, with Tokyo also confirming the launch.

Kim "guided a combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack involving super-large multiple rocket artillerymen," KCNA mentioned.

The rockets "hit their island target" some 352 kilometers (219 miles) away, the report said, saying Kim had expressed "great satisfaction" over the result, which boosted "the Korean-style tactical nuclear strike."

According to KCNA, the drill examined "the reliability of the system of command, management, control and operation of the whole nuclear force" and ensured the super-large multiple rocket units had "mastered" the ability to switch into nuclear counterattack mode.

The agency pointed out that the drills were in response to an ongoing US-South Korean joint air drill, which runs from April 12 to April 26.

Related News

Rafah hoax: Netanyahu's pretext for Gaza bloodshed

Donroe Doctrine: Trump’s neocolonial drive in Latin America

The US and South Korean air forces said the annual exercises are aimed at "demonstrating lethality in the air domain and enhancing their ability to deter, defend, and defeat any adversary."

Pyongyang expressed that it is "seriously threatened by the hostile forces' ceaseless military provocations," adding that the DPRK needs to "more overwhelmingly and more rapidly bolster up the strongest military muscle" as a result.

The latest drills come after Russia exercised last month its veto power to block a Security Council resolution aimed at overseeing UN sanctions imposed on the DPRK.

On Friday, the DPRK tested a "super-large warhead" designed for a strategic cruise missile, state media said, with Seoul's military confirming it had detected cruise missile launches around the same time.

It has also ramped up testing, confirming in early April to have tested a new medium-to-long-range solid-fuel hypersonic missile.

This year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Last year, the DPRK conducted a record number of missile tests. Pyongyang declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state in 2022.

Read more: DPRK says Japanese Prime Minister sought summit with Kim Jong Un

  • United States
  • Pyongyang
  • DPRK
  • Asian-Pacific
  • US
  • Korean Peninsula
  • Kim Jong Un
  • South Korea

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS