North Korea has decided to take "important practical" war deterrence measures, state media reported Sunday, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military drills in five years. All such exercises infuriate North Korea, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion. The country has said its nuclear weapons and missile programs are for self-defense. Analysts have said North Korea will likely use the drills as an excuse to carry out more provocations, including missile tests and perhaps even a nuclear test. On Friday, KCNA reported that Kim ordered North Korea's military to intensify drills for a "real war."

Source: The North Africa Journal March 12, 2023 04:14 UTC