A North Korean media outlet says that a recent series of missile launches by the North were part of a regular rocket drill.
 
The North Korean ruling party gazette Rodong Sinmun said Friday that the missile firing on March sixth was a normal exercise aimed at addressing nuclear war maneuvers by the U.S. and other enemies. It added that the North Korean military is holding ballistic missile drills on a regular basis.
 
The newspaper stressed that the missile launch was part of a military exercise by a sovereign country, not a provocation. It said that no nation around the world would seek UN approval or refer to international agreements when conducting military drills for national defense.
 
It continued that the possession of stronger nuclear deterrence will enable the regime to defend itself from nuclear wars more effectively and deal with any war attempts from the U.S.
 
By using the word “regular,” the Rodong report indicates the North’s determination to continue missile provocations in the future.
 
Until now, North Korea has said that its missile launches are normal, defensive actions.