North Korea conducted extensive artillery drills on Monday as part of its General Staff’s combat training plan, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The exercises, aimed at evaluating the readiness of tactical artillery units and sharing operational methods, took place less than a week before the annual US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise scheduled for August 18–28.
The drills involved mortar units of various calibers simulating strikes on designated targets. KCNA claimed the units achieved complete accuracy during the exercise. Senior military officials, including Marshal Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Vice Marshal Ri Yong-gil, chief of the General Staff, oversaw the event.
North Korea also issued a statement on Monday criticizing the upcoming joint US-South Korea drills, warning it would respond under its “self-defense” policy if provoked.
This year’s UFS exercise originally included 40 drills, but around half have been postponed to next month due to extreme heat, flood damage, and what Seoul described as an effort to improve inter-Korean relations.