North Korea showcases artillery that poses a deadly threat to the South

Seoul, South Korea CNN —

North Korea on Thursday showed off its long-range artillery systems, thousands of weapons that it could use to strike the South with little warning while causing tens of thousands of casualties, according to experts.

The North’s artillery drills come at a time of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula as the United States and South Korea conduct their annual Freedom Shield exercise, which the South Korean military said will focus on deterring North Korea’s nuclear threats.

North Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday denounced the 11-day US-South Korea joint exercises as “provocative” and “reckless,” and warned North Korean forces will monitor “adventurist acts” and conduct “responsible military activities” to bring what it called an unstable security situation under control, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Thursday’s artillery exercise was the North’s second drill this week, a day after its ground forces appeared to infiltrate border guard posts during maneuvers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed both drills and was seen in photos provided by state media.

Kim Jong Un inspects the artillery firing drill of the Korean People's Army (KPA) large combined units on March 7.

A KCNA report on Friday said the artillery drill sent a message to the South.

“The drill started with the power demonstration firing of the long-range artillery sub-units near the border who have put the enemy’s capital in their striking range and fulfilled important military missions for war deterrence,” the KCNA report said.

Kim stressed the importance of preparing “for regular combat mobilization so that all the artillery sub-units can take the initiative with merciless and rapid