North Korea conducts drill on nuclear counterattack response

North Korea conducted a drill testing its nuclear command-and-control system under the supervision of Kim Jong Un on Monday. The exercise simulated a nuclear counterattack and involved the use of "super-large" multiple rocket launchers. According to different reports, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles during the drill, with one missile reaching a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers according to South Korean and Japanese authorities. Seoul's military also confirmed the launch but provided no further details. North Korea has been increasing its weapons testing pace in recent months amid stalemated diplomacy with the United States and South Korea. The latest launches blur the boundary between artillery systems and nuclear capabilities, according to analysts.