North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has guided nuclear counterattack drills, sending a clear warning to its enemies, state news agency KCNA says.
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles on Monday toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Tuesday.
As part of testing the nationwide nuclear management system, called "nuclear trigger", its artillery forces joined the country's first such drills on Monday in a show of diversified nuclear capabilities and protest against US and South Korean military exercises, KCNA reported.
Kim oversaw the simulation drills involving manoeuvring troops in nuclear counterattack posture, and firing artillery with mock nuclear warheads, in case nuclear crisis alerts were issued, according to KCNA.
Kim highly praised the readiness of "the world's best" tactical nuclear attack weapons, expressing satisfaction with the drills, state media said.
The reclusive state is believed to be preparing to launch another spy satellite, after successfully putting a reconnaissance satellite in orbit in November.
North Korea last week said it had fired a strategic cruise missile to test a large warhead, and a new anti-aircraft missile.
Australian Associated Press
