The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of frontline units, the Korean Central News Agency reported, adding that the artillerymen hit the target with excellent marksmanship. Kim expressed great satisfaction and praised the perfect combat readiness of the long-range artillery sub-units on the front. He ordered the units to continue their training and conduct drills under the simulated conditions of an actual war.

On Monday morning, North Korea launched three unidentified projectiles into the Sea of Japan, a week after it fired two apparent short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.