Kim Jong Un Attends Military Drill in North Korea as US-South Korean Drills Ramp Up Tensions

North Korea conducted a military drill on Friday, according to state media, a day after South Korea’s military detected the North firing at least one short-range ballistic missile toward the sea from a site near the western coastal city of Nampo.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the Hwasong artillery unit’s fire drill on the western front, along with his daughter and military officials. Photos released by state-run media showed Kim observing the drill.

The North Korean missile launch on Thursday afternoon was likely the first in a series of military displays on both sides of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, according to analysts. The United States and South Korea have responded with their own military drills, including long-range B-1B and B-52 bombers and their biggest combined field training exercise in years.

The North Korean state media report did not mention the US-South Korean drills, but did include a comment from Kim Jong Un, apparently referring to the recent series of military drills between the two countries.

The missile launch and military drills come amid rising tensions between North Korea and the United States, with North Korea continuing to develop its nuclear arsenal and the United States maintaining a policy of maximum pressure on the regime. It remains to be seen how the two sides will respond to each other’s military actions in the coming weeks.