US Deploys B-1 Lancer Bombers, North Korea Holds Nuclear Strike Drills

JAKARTA - North Korea carried out a simulated "scorched earth" nuclear attack on targets across South Korea, state media reported on Thursday, in reaction to an allied exercise it said was a planned preemptive nuclear strike by the United States.

The missile unit fired two ballistic missiles and correctly carried out the "nuclear strike mission", the General Staff of the North Korean People's Army (KPA) said in a statement carried by the KCNA news agency.

"The KPA conducted a tactical nuclear strike drill simulating a scorched earth attack on the main command centers and operational airfields of the 'ROK' military gangsters on Wednesday night," said the statement, using the initials of South Korea's official name, Republic of Korea, cited from Reuters, August 31.

Separately, South Korea's military detected the launch of at least two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Wednesday, hours after the US separately deployed B-1B bombers for allied air drills.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Defense also reported that at least one suspected ballistic missile had been launched, while Japanese media reported two missiles were fired and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional provocations, and maintains full readiness through close cooperation between South Korea and the United States," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The latest launches came a day before South Korea and the US conclude 11 days of joint military exercises, which Pyongyang has long condemned as a war game.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday observed part of a drill involving all commanding officers and staff members of the entire army, aimed at preparing them for all-out war with South Korea.

The drills simulated repelling a surprise attack, then launching a counteroffensive to occupy "the entire southern region", the report said.

It is known that B-1B Lancer bombers carried out separate air exercises with fighter aircraft from South Korea and Japan on Wednesday.