N. Korea leader's sister says military drills constitutes to nuke reinforcements

5/11/2024 6:10

        North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the
        powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said military drills by
        the United States, Japan and South Korea justify North Korea's
        nuclear reinforcement, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.
        
        Kim criticised the air drill they conducted after North
        Korea tested a huge new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic
        missile dubbed Hwasong-19 last week, as well as "more than 20"
        military drills the allies have conducted this year.
        
        Given such threats, North Korea will not be swayed from the
        path of strengthening its nuclear deterrent, KCNA said.
        
        North Korea's ICBM launch last week flew higher than any
        previous North Korean missile, according to the North as well as
        militaries in South Korea and Japan that tracked its flight deep
        into space before it fell in the ocean between Japan and Russia.
        
        After the launch, South Korean and U.S. air forces conducted
        first-ever joint live-fire attack drills that involved the
        Global Hawk and the Reaper drones, dropping GPS-guided munitions
        in simulated strikes against enemy targets, South Korea's air
        force said.
        
        The ICBM launch last week came shortly after North Korea
        began sending soldiers to aid Russia's war in Ukraine, drawing
        swift condemnation from Washington and its allies in South
        Korea, Japan and Europe, as well as the United Nations
        secretary-general.
        
        Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected on
        Monday the reconstruction of areas that were previously hit with
        torrential rains and floods near the country's border with
        China, KCNA said on Tuesday.