North Korea Escalates Tensions with South Korea and Japan Amid Trilateral Naval Drills

Kim Jong Un's attempts to create friction between Tokyo and Seoul come as the United States, South Korea, and Japan conduct their largest-ever combined naval exercises in response to North Korea's increased missile testing and threats.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is attempting to create friction between Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, and undermine their trilateral relations with the United States, according to analysts.
North Korea has escalated its hostile stance toward South Korea, with Kim calling for the amendment of its constitution to refer to South Korea as its 'principal enemy' and planning for occupying South Korea if war breaks out.
North Korea recently test-fired a solid fuel intermediate range ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead and fired more than 200 rounds of artillery shells near Yeonpyeong Island on a disputed maritime border with South Korea.
Despite escalating tensions, Kim sent a message to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressing sympathy over a powerful earthquake in Japan, marking the first time Kim personally reached out to a Japanese prime minister.
The United States, South Korea, and Japan have conducted their biggest-ever combined naval exercises in response to North Korea's heightened testing activity and threats.