North Korea Says US-South Korea Drill Shows Need to Strengthen Nuclear Deterrent

Pyongyang said the Iron Mace exercise reinforced its stated need to strengthen its nuclear forces. The drill ran from September 29 to October 2; South Korea’s military reported no confirmed sign that North Korea had resumed threatened loudspeaker broadcasts.

• North Korea said the Iron Mace exercise was a nuclear-war rehearsal targeting the country and vowed to accelerate efforts to strengthen its nuclear deterrent.· 2 sources
• The US and South Korea held the exercise from September 29 to October 2 to integrate US nuclear capabilities with South Korean conventional forces, according to Seoul’s military.· 2 sources
• Analysts described it as unusual for Kim Jong Sik, a North Korean official involved in nuclear and missile development, to make a statement on nuclear policy.· 2 sources