Kim oversees DPRK cruise missile test ahead of Seoul, US drills

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Aug 2023 11:21
1 Shares

State-run news agency KCNA says the drill "aimed to reconfirm the combat function of the ship and the feature of its missile system."

DPRK overseeing leader Kim Jong Un a strategic cruise missile test during a visit to a navy unit (KCNA)

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un visited a navy unit and oversaw a strategic cruise missile test, state media reported on Monday, ahead of the start of joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.

Kim inspected one of the DPRK's fleets in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, and watched as the crew staged a drill launching "strategic cruise missiles," state-run news agency KCNA reported.

The drill "aimed to reconfirm the combat function of the ship and the feature of its missile system and make the seamen skilled at carrying out the attack mission in actual war," the report said.

It did not say when the visit took place or give further details on the types of missiles launched -- though it said they "rapidly hit target without even an error."

But Seoul claimed the KCNA report was "exaggerated and contained many discrepancies from the truth."

"Both South Korea and the United States had been monitoring any related signs -- which we detected in advance -- in real-time," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The DPRK's announcement came as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, a major joint exercise between Seoul and Washington, kicked off Monday. The exercises will run through August 31.

Pyongyang views all such exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has repeatedly warned it would take "overwhelming" action in response to the drills.

The announcement of the cruise missile test also comes days after US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol -- along with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida -- at Camp David.

At a press conference on Friday, the leaders said they saw a "new chapter" of close three-way security cooperation after the summit.

It was the first time the three countries' leaders have met for a standalone summit, and while China was the main topic, they also discussed the DPRK.

The three leaders agreed to a multi-year plan of regular exercises in all domains and made a formal "commitment to consult" during crises, with Biden saying they would open a hotline.

The leaders also agreed to share real-time data on the DPRK and to hold yearly summits.