North Korea shows off military drills as Kim Jong Un delivers ‘severe warning’ to US

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to further show off his nuclear capabilities in an attempt to deter the United States, according to a Reuters report.

His announcement comes off the back of two weeks of military drills in which he claimed to have launched a new ballistic missile as well as a demonstration of tactical atomic missile strikes.

The isolated nation has been conducting ballistic tests since September 25, including a missile test over Japanese waters for the first time in five year, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Monday. The drills have included simulated nuclear attacks on airports in South Korea, attacks on seaports and have been aimed at serving as a”severe warning” to the US and its allies. 

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The state-run news agency said that the missile fired over Japan on October 4 was the country’s “new-type ground-to-ground intermediate-range ballistic missile.” 

However, it has been difficult to identify how far North Korean technology has advanced, according to the Reuters report. The country has thus far been unable to demonstrate that it has the technology needed to arm and deploy nuclear armaments. The US and South Korea have been signalling that North Korea has been prepping for nuclear tests since at least 2017. 

The announcement comes after nearly a month-long absence of Kim Jon Un from state media, which has prompted questions regarding his health. The report also coincides with the day that North Korea celebrates the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Usually, the day is celebrated with a display of military might. 

Last month saw a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris to the demilitarized zone in South Korea as she made stops in Asia to reaffirm the US’ commitment to countries like South Korea and Taiwan.