North Korea's tall claim that 8,00,000 civilians ready to join military to counter US

rth Korea has stated that roughly 800,000 civilians, including students and workers, have offered to enlist in ir military to combat United States, reported CNN. Rodong Sinmun newspaper, a rth Korean state-run publication, stated that this number consists solely of students and workers who are er to join military to counter US.

rth Korea made this claim following launch of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, which was in response to joint military exercises between US and South Korea. 

missile launch took place during South Korea-US Freedom Shield (FS) exercise, which rth Korea has criticised as "preparations for a war of aggression" against m, according to Yonhap News ncy. 

rth Korea confirmed missile launch and stated that it was a "stronger warning" to US and South Korea for ir provocative and aggressive large-scale war drills.

In state news ncy, KCNA, rth Korea said: "Under grave situation in which most unstable security environment is being created in Korean peninsula due to frantic, provocative and aggressive large-scale war drills conducted by US and south Korean puppet traitors against DPRK, Central Military Commission of Workers' Party of Korea (WK) saw to it that a launching drill of ICBM Hwasong Pho-17 was conducted on March 16."

" launching drill of strategic weapon serves as an occasion to give a stronger warning to enemies intentionally escalating tension in Korean peninsula while persistently resorting to irresponsible and reckless military threats in defiance of DPRK's severe warning, and give an understanding of concern about armed conflict which has come to a threatening reality, and to more clearly show practical will of Party and government of DPRK to counterattack with overwhelming offensive measures anytime," statement added.

Kim oversees launch

Kim Jong-un, leader of rth Korea, personally oversaw launch of an ICBM unit during a drill. In attendance were senior officials from WK Central Committee and commanding officers from Missile General Bureau, who witnessed launch in presence of Kim Jong-un himself.

purpose of drill was to verify reliability and operational readiness of rth Korea's nuclear war deterrent system in mobile and rmal conditions.

" ICBM Hwasongpho-17, launched at Pyongyang International Airport, travelled up to a maximum altitude of 6,045km and flew a distance of 1,000.2 km for 4151s before accurately landing on preset area in open waters of East Sea of Korea," statement added.