North Korea claimed on Monday to have carried out a joint exercise with live ammunition, involving missiles, artillery, and drones, which, according to the country, demonstrated "enormous destructive power." The test included the simultaneous firing of different types of weapons, likely with the aim of developing the capacity to overwhelm the air defenses of South Korea and the US.
Experts say North Korea is not slowing the pace of its military tests, even after US President Donald Trump recently reduced a joint military exercise with South Korea. This reduction was interpreted as an attempt to reestablish diplomatic relations with leader Kim Jong Un.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, the country's official news outlet, reported that Saturday's exercise was aimed at practicing the operations of an integrated weapons control system. South Korea's armed forces had previously reported detecting missile launches.
