NoKor artillery drill targets South

SEOUL (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un conducted a large-scale artillery drill simulating an attack on the South Korean capital and other targets, as Seoul and Tokyo yesterday unveiled fresh unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program.

The military exercise, involving multiple batteries of frontline heavy artillery units, targeted five border islands, as well as “reactionary ruling organs” in Seoul and other cities, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.

It took place on Thursday, just hours after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution imposing tough new sanctions on North Korea following its fifth nuclear test in September.

The UN resolution, which was spearheaded by the United States and came after three months of tough negotiations with fellow veto- wielding council member China, caps the North’s annual coal exports — its top external revenue source.

“If a war breaks out, such a deadly strike should be inflicted upon the South Korean forces to completely break their will of counteraction at the start and make a clean sweep of them,” KCNA quoted Kim Jong-un as saying during the artillery drill.

“Nobody and nothing would survive,” the young leader added.

South Korea yesterday unveiled its own sanctions against Pyongyang, adding dozens of individuals and organizations to a blacklist of those suspected of involvement in the North’s nuclear program.

Given the absence of any trade links or meaningful contact of any sort between the two Koreas, the South’s measures are largely symbolic, and more aimed at “raising awareness,” senior government policy official Lee Sukjoon told a press briefing.

The expanded blacklist included the North’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and two of Kim’s closest aides, Choe Ryong-hae and Hwang Pyong-so — additions clearly aimed at riling the leadership in Pyongyang.