North Korea Conducts Strike Drills on South Korean Airfields... "Full-Scale Opposition to ROK-US Joint Exercises Begins"

Western Front Hwaseong Artillery Unit Conducts Firepower Training
At Least 6 Missiles Launched... Kim Juae Appears Again
US "If Course Not Changed, There Will Be Consequences"

North Korea has launched a full-scale show of force just four days before the large-scale South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. Following a barrage of denunciatory statements blaming South Korea and the United States for the deterioration of the situation, it simultaneously fired six ballistic missiles targeting our Air Force base. There is also speculation that during the training period, North Korea may carry out high-intensity provocations, including intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches at normal trajectory angles.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 10th, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un oversaw a firepower training exercise by the Hwaseong Artillery Unit on the western front the previous day. His daughter, Kim Ju-ae, accompanied him at the training site, and Chairman Kim emphasized that "we must thoroughly suppress the risk of military conflict on the Korean Peninsula by maintaining and continuously enhancing a powerful capability to overwhelmingly respond and subdue at any time."

North Korea's Kim Jong-un observes tactical guided weapon training with daughter 'Juae'... Targeting South Korean military airfield [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the previous day that North Korea had fired several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the Nampo area toward the West Sea. Photos released by North Korea on the day show six Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) of the "new tactical guided weapon" simultaneously launching one missile each. Considering that each TEL can carry up to four missiles, it is possible that more than six missiles were launched.

Chairman Kim also inspected and evaluated the combat readiness of the 8th Firepower Assault Company, which is responsible for the enemy operational airfield on the western front, and stated, "By continuously strengthening various simulated combat training from multiple angles, we must be strictly prepared to achieve maximum perfection in the two strategic missions: first, to deter war, and second, to seize the initiative in war."

In particular, the news agency explained that this exercise involved "virtually setting the enemy (South Korean) operational airfield as a key target and delivering a powerful simultaneous strike." This was a demonstration that the exercise was a drill to strike the South Korean Air Force base on the West Sea in case of emergency. The U.S. Air Force base located in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, is also within range. North Korea had previously fired four rocket artillery shells on the 20th of last month, threatening it as an "enemy (South Korean) airfield annihilation exercise."

North Korea's Kim Jong-un observes tactical guided weapon training with daughter 'Juae'... Targeting South Korean military airfield [Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea's blatant show of force is analyzed as a reaction against the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and also an attempt to escalate internal tensions. Given the severe food shortages and financial difficulties causing mass starvation, it is expected that North Korea may showcase its nuclear combat capabilities that can inflict maximum threat at minimal cost rather than responding proportionally to South Korea and the U.S.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said, "The simultaneous launch of multiple (ballistic) missiles can be seen as a demonstration of simultaneous strike capability," adding, "It is intended to send a strong internal message of response ahead of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and to raise tensions."

Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, diagnosed, "The fact that several short-range missiles were launched simultaneously toward the West Sea in the evening seems to emphasize the intention to test our military's detection capabilities," and added, "It is both a reaction to the joint exercises and an actual response training."

The National Intelligence Service, in a briefing to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 7th, forecasted that North Korea might soon conduct large-scale exercises including nuclear forces or launch new solid-fuel ICBMs or military reconnaissance satellites. The specific timing is expected to be around March to April, when the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and summits are scheduled, and it is anticipated that North Korea will carry out military provocations combining nuclear and conventional weapons.

Ned Price, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson
Photo by Yonhap News

The U.S. State Department condemned North Korea's missile launches on the same day and issued a warning message. Spokesperson Ned Price stated, "We are working with global partners to make it clear to North Korea that it will continue to pay a price unless it changes course," and "We hope North Korea will shift toward dialogue and diplomacy."

When asked whether North Korea's missile launches were in response to the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, he replied, "If North Korea mistakenly believes that the defensive joint exercises we conduct with South Korea, Japan, and others pose a threat to it, that is a misunderstanding," and asserted, "The reason we conduct these exercises is solely because of North Korea's provocations."

Meanwhile, South Korea and U.S. military authorities will conduct the Freedom Shield (FS) joint exercise from the 13th to the 23rd. This marks the revival of the Eagle (FE) exercise after five years, which had been suspended during the Moon Jae-in administration's conciliatory policy toward North Korea. During the exercise period, deployment of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), Aegis destroyers, and nuclear-powered submarines equipped with Tomahawk missiles is expected.