(LEAD) N. Korea reports latest missile launches, calling it strike drill

North Korea conducted a firepower strike drill involving artillery and missile units last week, according to state media reports. The drill, which took place on September 12, involved subunits selected from the five artillery and missile joint units and featured new combat systems, including various types of attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, large-caliber thermal-pressure multiple rocket launchers, and tactical ballistic missiles.

North Korea claimed that all strike weapon systems hit their targets with 100 percent accuracy, describing the drill as demonstrating the unity and simultaneity of firepower attack. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the drill, but Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the North's Central Military Commission, observed the exercise.

The report came a day after South Korea, the United States, and Japan concluded their trilateral military exercise, Freedom Edge.

Brief written by urgent.news from Yonhap News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.