The key facts

  • North Korea condemned the joint South Korea-US Iron Mace exercise as a 'rehearsal for nuclear war'
  • Pyongyang stated that there will be no changes to its defense policy
  • The statement followed the test of a ballistic missile cluster warhead on October 31

Pyongyang's Statement

Kim Jong Sik, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Department, stated that North Korea condemns the joint military exercise Iron Mace conducted by South Korea and the United States. His remarks were reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as summarized by Gazeta.Ru. The statement described the exercise as 'the most monstrous rehearsal for nuclear war aimed at using nuclear weapons against our state.'

Course of Strengthening Nuclear Forces

In Pyongyang's view, the ongoing exercises confirm the correctness of the DPRK's course of 'continuously strengthening nuclear forces capable of responding consistently even to such a nuclear threat.' Kim Jong Sik emphasized that there will be 'no change whatsoever' in the country's defense policy 'in response to the existing complex and long-term threats.' Thus, the official position boils down to the fact that the response to the exercises will not be a softening, but a continuation of the previous military course.

Context: Recent Tests

The statement came against the backdrop of a series of military tests by the DPRK. According to KCNA, on October 31 the Missile Administration tested the combat capability and power of the cluster warhead of a tactical ballistic missile. Earlier, on October 17, it was reported about the launch of a new ultra-fast torpedo with artificial intelligence. Pyongyang links the tests themselves and the statement about the immutability of defense policy: the Iron Mace exercise, in its formulation, merely confirms the correctness of the course of strengthening nuclear forces.