North Korea Conducts Combined "Offensive" Drill Featuring Drones, Cruise Missiles, and Ballistic Missiles

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) – International Service: The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday that the exercise took place on Saturday, September 12, involving units from five combined artillery and missile formations of the Korean People's Army.

 

New combat systems such as attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, heavy thermobaric multiple rocket launchers, and tactical ballistic missiles were deployed during the drill. KCNA stated that all participating offensive systems struck their targets with 100% accuracy, demonstrating "unity and simultaneity in firepower strikes."

 

According to reports, released images show the launch of at least one "Hwasong-11A" short-range ballistic missile from a mobile launcher, as well as the firing of five 600mm multiple rocket launchers from a coastal site. Other images depict the launch of a "Hwasal"-series cruise missile and both fixed-wing and X-wing drones from ground positions. Experts believe Pyongyang claims that its short-range ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, and cruise missile systems are capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.

 

The South Korean military announced on Saturday that several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the Wonsan area on North Korea's southeastern coast toward the East Sea, traveling a distance of approximately 250 kilometers. This marks North Korea's thirteenth ballistic missile launch of the year. The drill took place one day after the conclusion of "Freedom Edge" a five-day joint exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan held in international waters east and south of Jeju Island. North Korean Defense Minister Kim Sung-gi had previously strongly condemned this trilateral exercise, warning that Pyongyang would take "strong countermeasures."

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was not present at the drill; instead, Pak Jong-chon, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Yu Chang-son, the head of the army's artillery bureau, oversaw the proceedings. Yu Chang-son stated that the goal of such exercises is to enhance "expertise in the organizational and structural destruction of enemy armed forces" and that the North Korean army would "continuously strengthen its counter-attack posture against the enemy through practical drills."