Pyongyang Conducts Massive Artillery Drills on Army Anniversary Day – Reports

The Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted large-scale artillery drills in the area of the city of Wonsan on Tuesday, Yonhap news agency reported citing South Korean officials.

The massive live-fire drills occurred on the country's east coast on 85th anniversary of the DPRK's army, according to the sources. North Korean Kim Jong-un was reported to attend the event.

The news comes as South Korean military said Monday that the USS Carl Vinson would be joined by a US submarine for military drills off the Korean Peninsula later this week. Pyongyang called the submarine’s deployment "undisguised military blackmail."

Earlier in April, the Pentagon sent the naval group from Singapore toward North Korea. After it turned out that the Carl Vinson deployed to deter North Korea did not reach the Sea of Japan reportedly because White House and Pentagon failed to communicate effectively and was spotted near Indonesia, it was reported that it will finally reach the Korean Peninsula later this month.

Recently, rumors circulated suggesting that Pyongyang will conduct its sixth nuclear test soon, as it is reportedly developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the US mainland.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen in the wake of Pyongyang's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches conducted in violation of the UN Security Council's resolutions.