TOKYO, August 31. /TASS/. North Korea conducted drills simulating tactical nuclear strikes on targets in South Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.
"The KPA (Korean People’s Army - TASS) staged a tactical nuclear strike drill simulating scorched earth strikes at major command centers and operational airfields of the "ROK" military gangsters on Wednesday night," it said.
As part of the drills, two tactical ballistic missiles were fired in the north-easterly direction from the territory of Pyongyang’s international airport. They exploded at an altitude of 400 meter over the hypothetical targets.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the drills.
According to the KPA General Staff, the drills were organized in response to the United States and South Korea’s Ulchi Freedom Shield maneuvers geared, according to the North Korean side, to drill a scenario of a preemptive nuclear strike on North Korea.
"The drill, staged at a time when the enemies' adventurous aggressive war exercises Ulji Freedom Shield reached their height, is a serious threat to the DPRK as it was just pursuant to the scenario for a preemptive nuclear strike at the DPRK," the KPA General Staff said.
South Korea and the United States are holding annual joint exercises Ulchi Freedom Shield from August 21 through 31.