North Korea stages artillery firing drill in latest weapons test

Leader Kim Jong-un was not mentioned in state media reports of the artillery firing exercises. He supervised a similar artillery firing drill last year

Since September, North Korea has test-launched a series of newly developed missiles, including nuclear-capable long-range weapons

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A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency of the artillery firing drill. Photo: EPA-EFE/KCNA

Published: 3:02pm, 7 Nov 2021Updated: 8:42pm, 7 Nov 2021

North Korea has conducted artillery firing exercises to bolster its defence capability, state media reported on Sunday, its latest weapons test as Pyongyang continues to pressure Washington and Seoul to abandon what it calls their hostile policy towards it.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that an artillery firing competition among mechanised units was held on Saturday, with senior government and military officials present.

Leader Kim Jong-un was not mentioned in the report, suggesting he did not observe the training. He supervised a similar artillery firing drill last year.

This year’s drills were designed to inspect the mechanised units’ progress in their mobile combat capabilities and to further intensify competitive training throughout the country’s military, KCNA said.

Since September, North Korea has test-launched a series of newly developed missiles, including nuclear-capable weapons that place US allies South Korea and Japan within striking distance. Some experts say North Korea wants its rivals to accept it as a nuclear power state and work to ease international sanctions on the country.

The North’s artillery tests draw less outside attention than its missile tests, particularly ballistic weapons launches that are banned by multiple UN Security Council resolutions.