The Supreme Command of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) has ordered the Strategic Force to launch an intensive command drill on the wartime use of nuclear weapons, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in the North Korean military said that the headquarters of the Strategic Force “received a telegraphic order from the Supreme Command on Aug. 24 instructing it to conduct an intensive command exercise for launching surprise nuclear strikes using transporter erector launchers (TELs).”
According to the source, the exercise focuses on verifying the process of conducting surprise nuclear missile launches using the covert and mobile capabilities of TELs to avoid enemy detection. The drill is apparently aimed at strengthening the Strategic Force’s tactical nuclear weapons operations system by improving the force’s ability to conduct surprise launches using TELs and instilling procedural competence.
“The Strategic Force’s latest intensive command drill is part of its 2024 plans to achieve the goals presented at the Eighth Party Congress,” the source said. “The Supreme Command is taking direct command of the exercise, which is aimed at more precisely strengthening the Strategic Force’s nuclear weapons operational capability from the headquarters to the lowest tactical unit on the front line.”
North Korea has advanced the development of miniaturized nuclear warheads, tactical nuclear warheads, super-large nuclear warheads and hypersonic glide warheads in accordance with the five-year plan for the development of defense science and weapons systems announced at the Eighth Party Congress in 2021. This year, it is conducting large-scale deployments of mass-produced TELs to strategic force units.
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Aug. 5 that “a ceremony to celebrate the transfer and reception of a new-type tactical ballistic missile system was held on Aug. 4” and that “a ceremony to transfer 250 new-type tactical ballistic missile launchers produced by major ammunition enterprises to the frontline units on the border of the DPRK was held in Pyongyang, the capital, with great splendor.”
The source told Daily NK that “the results of this drill will be additionally reflected in next year’s annual drills to check the military’s readiness for war.”
This means that the KPA plans to prepare for war more thoroughly and ensure an immediate response capability by verifying the Strategic Force’s preparations and command posture for launching surprise attacks with the TELs through the exercise and supplementing and improving the problems and shortcomings discovered.