North Korea carried out a coordinated live-fire drill involving drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers on 12 September, state media reported on Monday. The exercise brought together five army units and followed the end of the Freedom Edge exercises by South Korea, the United States and Japan, as Pyongyang again demonstrated a mixed salvo capability spanning air and missile defence planning concerns.
South Korea’s military detected several short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area around 05:20 local time on Saturday, with the weapons travelling about 250 km before landing in the sea. KCNA framed the drill as a test of integrated strike capability and readiness, with an artillery official saying it was intended to improve troops’ ability to act when ordered.
The public disclosure came two days after the drill, and Kim Jong Un was not reported to have attended. KCNA did not identify the weapons by designation or give a precise firing location beyond the general area identified by South Korean officials.