State media said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the navy will become "a component of the state nuclear deterrence," as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan conducted a trilateral naval exercise to counter North Korea's escalating nuclear threats.
Since last week, the militaries of the United States and South Korea have been conducting separate bilateral summer training exercises. Although Washington and its allies insist military exercises are defensive, North Korea sees such U.S.-led training as an invasion practice, as reported by NBC News.
Kim claimed that U.S.-led hostilities had caused the waters of the Korean Peninsula to become unstable and "with the danger of a nuclear war" in a speech honoring the nation's Navy Day on Monday.
According to Kim, new weapons would be provided to military units of each branch of service in accordance with the government's intention to increase the operational range of tactical nuclear bombs.
This means that North Korea would equip its navy and other armed forces with brand-new nuclear-capable missiles.
In order to foil his competitors' plans to attack his nation, he also demanded that his troops be continually prepared for battle.
The Gang Bosses
With its allies, the U.S., according to Kim, has been conducting "more frantic" naval exercises and deploying strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula. Kim also mentioned a recent conference between the United States, South Korea, and Japan where it was decided to strengthen defense cooperation in order to oppose North Korea's nuclear development.
President Joe Biden, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan were referred to by Kim as "the gang bosses" of the three nations.
The foreign ministry of South Korea expressed sincere concern at Kim's use of "very rude language" to disparage the leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Reporters were informed by spokesperson Lim Soosuk that North Korea has to stop its "reckless threats and provocation" and swiftly lower tensions.
Naval vessels from the three nations participated in Tuesday's training in international waters off South Korea's southern Jeju island. The South Korean Navy said in a statement that the training's main objective was to learn how to effectively detect, monitor, and share information about approaching North Korean missiles.
On August 21, the military exercises between the United States and South Korea officially began. The yearly Ulchi Freedom Shield drill is a command post-simulation. But this year, they had field training.
Read also: North Korea Allegedly Fired ICMBs After Threatening US; Japanese, SoKor Officials Share Details
North Korea's Testing Campaign Triggers the US and South Korea
Usually, North Korea conducts its own missile tests in response to joint military exercises with South Korea. Its second effort to launch a spy satellite into orbit failed last Thursday. According to The Independent, Kim saw strategic cruise missile test firings the day before the maneuvers started.
North Korea has conducted more than 100 weapons tests since the start of 2022, many of which were nuclear-capable missiles intended to attack the United States, South Korea, and Japan. According to many observers, North Korea ultimately hopes to utilize its improved military prowess to force the United States to make further concessions.
Due to the North's testing campaign, the United States and South Korea have been forced to increase their drills, resume trilateral training with Japan, and improve the "regular visibility" of U.S. strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula. For the first time in forty years, the US sent a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea in July.
Related article: US, South Korea, Japan Conduct First Anti-Submarine Drill Amid North Korea's Threats
