SAEDNEWS: North Korea said on Monday that a recent joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea was a rehearsal for nuclear war targeting the country, and vowed to accelerate efforts to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, according to state media KCNA.
According to Saednews, Kim Jong Sik, a deputy department director of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, said the Iron Mace military exercise demonstrated that the United States remained committed to its "reckless ambition to contain North Korea through nuclear weapons." He warned that such threats were "intensifying with each passing day."
According to Reuters, Kim said the Iron Mace exercise and other joint military activities between Washington and Seoul highlighted the need for North Korea to accelerate the expansion of its nuclear capabilities.
The United States and South Korea conducted the Iron Mace exercise from September 29 to October 2. The drills were designed to integrate US nuclear capabilities with South Korea's conventional military forces, according to South Korea's military.
Analysts noted that it was unusual for Kim, a senior official responsible for overseeing North Korea's nuclear and missile development and production, to publicly outline the country's nuclear policy. Such statements are more commonly issued by officials from the defense or foreign ministries.
Yang Moo-jin, an emeritus professor at the University of North Korean Studies, suggested that Kim's responsibilities may be expanding beyond missile development and production to include broader nuclear and missile policy matters.
Tensions between the two Koreas have increased following a landmine explosion near the border in September. North Korea subsequently threatened to resume propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers toward South Korea by the end of October.
However, South Korea's military said on Monday that there were no confirmed signs that Pyongyang had acted on its threat.
