This photo, provided by the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 10 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talking to military officials during his inspection of major drills. Yonhap

North Korea's recent missile tests were "tactical nuclear" drills personally overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, state media said Monday, adding the launches were a response to U.S.-led joint military exercises in the region.

Kim has long wanted to develop tactical nukes ― smaller, lighter weapons designed for battlefield use ― and made it a top priority at a key party congress in January 2021.

The country revised its nuclear laws last month, envisaging a wide array of scenarios in which it could use its nukes, with Kim declaring North Korea an "irreversible" nuclear power ― effectively ending the possibility of denuclearization talks.

Since then, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have ramped up combined naval exercises, including deploying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan to the area twice, infuriating Pyongyang, which sees the joint drills as rehearsals for invasion.

In response, North Korea "decided to organize military drills under the simulation of an actual war", the official KCNA reported.

North Korean army units involved in "the operation of tactical nukes staged military drills from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9 in order to check and assess the war deterrent and nuclear counterattack capability of the country," the report said.

"Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of its Central Military Commission, guided the military drills on the spot," it added.

KCNA said that "tactical nuclear operations units" had conducted seven launching drills that had allowed North Korea's nuclear forces to display their "militant effectiveness and actual war capabilities", KCNA added.

Systems deployed

North Korea also released multiple photographs of the recent missile launches, tests and exercises, showing Kim Jong-un overseeing them all, giving orders and posing with smiling soldiers.

"They're pursuing a tactical nuclear weapon for sure," said U.S.-based security analyst Ankit Panda.