North Korea broke its silence on a recent flurry of missile tests on Monday as its state media reported that the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, had overseen the test launches of several nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles, including one that was fired from an underwater silo.
The report was the first time that North Korea claimed it was building underwater nuclear weapons silos, suggesting that the country was developing technology that would make its missiles more difficult to detect and intercept. North Korean news media also published photos that purported to show a ballistic missile rising from under the waters of a reservoir. One of the recent tests, it said, was a rehearsal for firing nuclear weapons at airports in South Korea.
The North has launched 12 ballistic missiles in seven weapons tests in the last two weeks. All of them have been short-range missiles, except the intermediate-range ballistic missile launched on Oct. 4 that flew over Japan, triggering alarms across the country’s north.
On Monday, state-run media reported Mr. Kim’s presence at the testing sites for the first time in five months, releasing a ream of photographs. The country has conducted a record 25 missile tests this year.
Monday marked the 77th anniversary of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, and its state media appeared to highlight Mr. Kim’s leadership by showcasing his country’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities — Mr. Kim’s biggest achievement since taking power more than a decade ago. Mr. Kim was quoted as saying that the recent tests were designed to demonstrate “our nuclear response posture and nuclear attack capabilities.”
“The enemies have still talked about dialogue and negotiation while posing military threats to us, but we have no content for dialogue with the enemies and felt no necessity to do so,” Kim said, according to state media.
Pyongyang’s latest statement underscored the contentious diplomatic standoff as the United States and South Korea harden their positions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and its preparations for its seventh test of a nuclear weapon. The announcement also coincided with a North Korean holiday celebrating the country’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
After scaling back exercises during the pandemic and nuclear diplomacy that ultimately failed, the allies have been conducting drills since August to demonstrate their readiness to work together in the event of a conflict with the North.
The allies say the exercises are defensive in nature, but Pyongyang has long viewed them as hostile acts and used them to justify its weapons development and nuclear program. State media blamed the allies for “taking a regretful attitude further escalating the tension in the region” in their use of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan.
