Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un oversaw tactical nuclear exercises between September 25 to October 9, leading drills involving long-range artillery units and air squadrons pertaining to the Korean People's Army (KPA) this weekend, according to the South Korean Yonhap news agency. 

Pyongyang staged "ballistic missile launching drills under the simulation of loading tactical nuclear warheads," to assess the "war deterrent and nuclear counterattack capability." This comes as a response to the joint drills between the United States and South Korea, according to Yonhap, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The DPRK held striking exercises using live fire, involving long-range artillery and aviation on Sunday. The day before, Pyongyang held large-scale air-attack drills which involved 150 warplanes and more. 

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Pyongyang has recently vowed to strengthen the country's nuclear force, articulating that it is not interested in "dialogue with the enemies and felt no necessity to do so."

The DPRK has tested six nuclear launches since September 25, which makes the total number of nuclear weapons launches this year in the country 23. Pyongyang has recently emphasized that its launches come in response to Washington and Seoul's refusal to stop their joint military drills, threatening regional stability. 

Last week, South Korean and US fighter jets conducted precision bombing drills.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said "With the participation of four South Korean Air Force F-15Ks and four US Air Force F-16 fighters, South Korea's F-15K fired two joint direct attack munition (JDAM) bombs against a virtual target at the Jikdo shooting field in the West Sea," referring to the Yellow Sea.

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