'Nuclear war rehearsal': North Korea to strengthen deterrent after US-South Korea drills
North Korea has announced plans to accelerate its nuclear deterrent program in response to recent joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. Pyongyang labeled the 'Iron Mace' drills as a nuclear war rehearsal.
Why it matters
This escalation reflects the deteriorating security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the increasing risk of nuclear posturing.
North Korea has vowed to speed up efforts to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, accusing the US and South Korea of conducting a joint military exercise that amounted to a “nuclear war rehearsal” against Pyongyang, state media KCNA reported on Monday.Kim Jong Sik, a deputy department director in the ruling Workers’ Party, said the Iron Mace exercise demonstrated that Washington remained committed to its “wild ambition to stifle North Korea with nukes”. He added that such threats were “escalating with each passing day”.The US and South Korea conducted the Iron Mace exercise from September 29 to October 2.
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