Top DPRK leader guides another long-range artillery strike drill

PYONGYANG - Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on Monday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.

Kim watched the drill at an observation post and ordered the start of the fire, said the report, without giving details about what kind of weapons were tested.

The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to "inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of the long-range artillery units on the front," it said.

The Republic of Korea officials said that the DPRK fired at least three unidentified projectiles Monday, the second such move within a week. The ROK's Defense Ministry said it detected different types of short-range projectiles fired from the Sondok area on the east coast of the DPRK into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

"The artillerymen on the front hit the target with excellent marksmanship in the presence of the Supreme Leader, fully demonstrating their combat power ...," the KCNA said.

On March 2, Kim visited a firepower strike drill ground of long-range artillery sub-units of the KPA and guided the drill, according to the KCNA.