Ticker – North Korea: Latest missile simulated nuclear counterattack

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says its ballistic missile launch over the weekend simulated a nuclear attack against South Korea. The North has held five missile demonstrations this month to protest the largest joint military drills in years between the U.S. and South Korea. The North’s leader Kim Jong Un instructed his military to hold more drills to sharpen the war readiness of his nuclear forces in the face of “aggression” by his enemies. North Korea’s neighbors detected the short-range ballistic missile being launched Sunday less than an hour before the U.S. flew long-range B-1B bombers for training with South Korean warplanes. The North characterizes the U.S.-South Korea exercises as a rehearsal to invade, though the allies insist they are defensive in nature.