Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong UnKCNA/via REUTERS

North Korea has decided to take important, practical war deterrence measures, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing state news agency KCNA.

According to the report, the decision was made at a ruling party meeting presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The meeting preceded large joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea that are due to start on Monday which have angered North Korea.

KCNA said the party discussed and decided on "important, practical measures", but did not provide specifics on those measures.

On Thursday, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile, in Pyongyang's latest show of force before the South Korea-US military exercises.

Kim was on the ground to witness "a powerful volley" by an artillery unit "ready to respond to actual war".

The North has upped the volume of its ballistic missile tests in recent months. The country tested dozens of ballistic weapons in 2022, including its first intercontinental ballistic missiles since 2017.

In January, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters. Kim later ordered the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and massive production of tactical nuclear weapons to counter threats from the United States and South Korea.

In mid-February, North Korea tested a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a “surprise launching drill” under the written orders of leader Kim Jong Un. Days later, it test-fired four strategic cruise missiles during a drill designed to demonstrate its ability to conduct a nuclear counterattack against hostile forces.