On Monday, March 13, South Korea and the United States began joint military exercises, which North Korea interpreted as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea responded by announcing it had begun testing its own submarine-launched missiles.
Eleven days of joint US and South Korean exercises are scheduled, and on March 12, North Korea launched missiles from a submarine.
As part of the US-South Korea exercises, the Freedom Shield 23 and Warrior Shield FTX joint field exercises will be simulated on computers.
The purpose of the simulation is to strengthen South Korea’s defenses and ability to respond to the growing nuclear threat posed by North Korea.
The US military confirmed in a statement that the joint exercises were designed to enhance cooperation between the US and South Korea in the areas of space, air, sea, land, special operations, and cyberspace. The exercises will be beneficial to military strategy, training, and procedure.
Sunday, North Korea claimed to have launched two cruise missiles from a submarine in retaliation for military exercises conducted by the United States and their “puppet forces” in South Korea.
The North Korean news agency, Korean Central News, asserted that the missiles were strategic and that their launches demonstrated the North’s “nuclear war deterrence,” suggesting that the North intends to arm the cruise missiles with nuclear weapons.
Reports indicate that the cruise missiles demonstrated their capabilities by flying for more than two hours and striking targets more than 900 miles away.
In addition to allowing North Korea to launch retaliatory strikes, submarine-launched missile systems make it more difficult for targets to detect North Korea’s missile launches.
The North Korean cruise missiles were the first missiles launched from a submarine by the country. In previous tests, ballistic missiles were utilized.
South Korea has attempted to modernize its military in response to North Korea’s submarine threats.
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is believed by experts to be attempting to coerce the United States to recognize North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power in order to have economic sanctions against his country loosened.