North Korean leader Kim Jong-un insists his country is ready to carry out nuclear attacks at any time to deter adversaries from launching a war, North Korean state media reported on Monday (March 20th).

The statements came as Pyongyang conducted exercises on Saturday and Sunday aimed at strengthening its "capabilities to deter war and counterattack nuclear counter-attack," the official KCNA news agency said, adding that it was a strong warning to Washington and Seoul.

In this context, to simulate a tactical nuclear attack, a ballistic missile equipped with a dummy nuclear warhead hit a target 800 kilometers away after flying at an altitude of 800 meters, KCNA said.

Kim Jong-un, who oversaw the test, noted North Korea's increased military capabilities and stressed the need to ensure the country is prepared to carry out an "immediate and overwhelming nuclear counterattack." He expressed his "satisfaction" after the weekend of exercises, according to KCNA.

According to the South Korean military, this is a "serious provocation" in violation of United Nations sanctions. U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies are conducting analyses.

Tokyo also condemned the shooting, as did the US military command in the region.

Pyongyang's fourth show of force in a week

It was Pyongyang's fourth show of force in a week, as Seoul and Washington conduct their largest 11-day joint military exercises in five years, dubbed "Freedom Shield."

North Korea views all such exercises as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory and has repeatedly warned that it will respond in an "overwhelming" manner.

On Thursday, Pyongyang launched its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the most powerful in its arsenal, in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter, and just before a visit to Japan by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

It was Pyongyang's second ICBM test this year, which KCNA called a response to "frenetic" military exercises by South Korea and the United States.

The launch itself came after two short-range ballistic missiles were launched on Tuesday and, on March 12, two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine.

With AFP and Reuters

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