North Korea shows off the firepower of its million-strong army as nuclear tensions rise

Hundreds of tanks lined up in the coastal town (KRT via AP Video)

Tensions rose in the Korean peninsula as North Korea conducted live-fire artillery drills on Tuesday – with displays showing off the military strength of North Korea’s million-strong army.
Hundreds of tanks lined up in the eastern coastal town of Wonsan, to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of its Korean People’s Army.
Dictator Kim Jong-Un saluted troops as 300 large-calibre artillery pieces fired – in what official state media described as the ‘largest ever’ combined live-fire drills.

KRT media

Submarines conducted torpedo attacks, as missiles blasted out across the sea in a show of military strength – as tensions rose with neighbouring South Korea.

It was described as the regime’s largest-ever combined fire exercise (Picture KRT Media)

Hours after the display, rival South Korea have announced the installation of key parts of a contentious US missile defence system meant to counter the North.
South Korea’s trumpeting of progress in setting up the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system, or THAAD, comes as high-powered US military vessels converge on the Korean Peninsula and as a combative North Korea signals possible nuclear and missile testing.
The USS Carl Vinson aircraft super-carrier is also headed toward the peninsula for a joint exercise with South Korea.

Submarines staged attacks against fake warships (Picture KRT)

Moves to set up THAAD within this year have angered not only North Korea, but also China, the country that the Trump administration hopes to work with to rid the North of nuclear weapons.
China, which has grown increasingly frustrated with North Korea, its ally, and Russia see the system’s powerful radars as a security threat.
South Korea said that unspecified parts of THAAD were installed.

It said that Seoul and Washington have been pushing to get THAAD quickly working to cope with North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the parts include two or three launchers, intercept missiles and a radar.

Hundreds of troops took part in the exercises (Picture KRT media)

Sen Graham, a defence hawk who dined with Mr Trump on Monday night, said North Korea should not underestimate the president’s resolve.
The USS Michigan, a nuclear-powered submarine, arrived on Tuesday at the South Korean port of Busan for what was described as a routine visit to rest crew and load supplies.

Missiles streaked out across the sea (Picture Getty)

The US 7th Fleet said two American destroyers were conducting simultaneous maritime exercises with naval ships from South Korea and Japan.
(Metro, UK)