Kim Jong Un called for ‘exponential’ increase in arms production STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP 03/15/2023
North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile early Monday, the latest in its wave of weapons tests in recent weeks, the South Korean military said.
“North Korea has launched an unidentified ballistic missile” into the Sea of Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said.
The launch came days after Seoul and Washington concluded their largest joint military exercises in five years on Thursday.
Pyongyang sees the drills as rehearsals for an invasion, and on Friday it declared the latest drills, dubbed the Freedom Shield, an “occupation” of North Korea.
Pyongyang conducted its own military exercises, including the second launch of an ICBM this year and testing an underwater nuclear strike drone.
After a record year of weapons testing and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang in 2022, Seoul and Washington have stepped up security cooperation.
North Korea last year declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power, and leader Kim Jong Un recently called for an “exponential” increase in arms production, including tactical nuclear weapons.