State media reported on Friday that Kim Jong Un had directed the military to step up training in order to prevent and prepare for a “real war” if necessary. The announcement came after the leader oversaw a fire assault exercise that the media claimed demonstrated North Korea’s capabilities.
The South Korean military said that North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile off its west coast on Thursday. It also claimed it was investigating the possibility that the North may have launched additional missiles simultaneously from the same location.
At least six missiles were launched simultaneously, according to images published by the North’s KCNA news agency.
A unit that has been trained for “strike operations” reportedly launched a “powerful salvo at the targeted waters” and showed it could “counter an actual war,” according to KCNA.
According to KCNA, “(Kim) underlined that the fire assault sub-units should be strictly prepared for the highest perfection in carrying out the two strategic tasks, namely, to avert war and second, to take the initiative in war, by continuously expanding various simulated drills for real war.
His little daughter, who has recently made appearances in a number of significant events, was with Kim.