North Korea: Missile Tests Are Preparation for an Attack

North Korea: Missile Tests Are Preparation for an Attack

North Korea's military said Monday that missile tests last week were preparation for striking South Korean and U.S. military targets. The military also said the tests were an answer to large U.S. and South Korean air force drills.

This year's drills involving the U.S. and South Korea were the largest ever for their annual fall exercises. The drills involved 240 warplanes including high-technology F-35 fighter jets. The allies had planned to carry out drills for five days ending on Friday. But South Korea and the U.S. held an additional day of training in reaction to the North's missile tests.

The General Staff of North Korea's military said in a statement that the North will answer U.S. and South Korean military exercises with more of its own exercises.

North Korea launched more than 20 missiles and flew warplanes towards its sea border last week. Those actions caused evacuation warnings in some areas of South Korea and Japan.

North Korea said some cruise missiles fell in international waters about 80 kilometers from South Korea's southeastern coastal¹ city of Ulsan.

The North's military said it also tested a ballistic missile with a special warhead with the goal of "paralyzing the operation command system of the enemy." Some observers suggest the statement could describe an attack using electromagnetic energy. But it is unclear whether North Korea has developed such technology or can use it.

U.S. and South Korea warn North Korea

On Saturday, the final day of the air force exercises, the United States flew two B-1B bombers² over South Korea for the first time since December 2017.

South Korea's Joint³ Chiefs of Staff said the B-1Bs showed the allies are ready to answer North Korea's provocations⁵. They also said it showed the U.S. will defend its ally with all its forces, including nuclear weapons.

U.S. Defense⁶ Secretary Lloyd Austin warned on Thursday that any nuclear attacks against the United States or its allies and partners "is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime." South Korea's military warned earlier that using nuclear weapons would put the North on a "path of self-destruction."

Some experts said the missiles launched last week were short-distance missiles that could carry nuclear warheads. The missiles could threaten important military bases including U.S. bases.

South Korean and U.S. officials have continued to say their drills are defensive⁷ and that they are not planning to invade the North.

U.S. and South Korean militaries have been expanding their regular drills since May when South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office. Yoon has promised to take a stronger position against North Korea.

In recent years, some of the exercises were reduced or canceled. The reduction was meant to support diplomatic efforts aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program or to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Words in This Story

drill –n. a military exercise meant to increase readiness

annual –adj. yearly

evacuation –n. the process of leaving or being removed from a place because of danger there

ballistic missile –n. a missile that travels large distances and falls to the ground and explodes

paralyze –v. to cause something to not move forward or prevent it from happening

provocation⁴ –n. an action that is aimed at causing people to get angry or upset

regime –n. a form of government

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

5 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。