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World War 3 fears as 'nuclear warhead' tested after major 'war games' takes place

North Korea has ramped up the World War 3 rhetoric but firing off a missle that could be used as a nuke just days after issuing major threats to the US and South Korea

[North Korea has been testing more missiles (file)]

North Korea has been testing more missiles (file)

World War 3 fears are rising thanks to a North Korea testing a missile with nuclear capabilities. It comes just days after the isolated nation made WW3-style threats after a major allied war games between South Korea and the United States took place, further ratcheting up tensions in the region.

State media recently lashed out at a massive United States-led naval exercise, condemning the joint drills alongside South Korea and Japan as a blatant war rehearsal of aggression. A North Korean military commentator publicly stated that the combined forces of the US, Japan, and South Korea were creating a severe new security crisis in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ominously, the spokesperson warned that it is the regimes strict policy to respond to new levels of threat with entirely new levels of deterrence, heavily implying that catastrophic retaliation is on the table.

[The Hwasong missile series is one of North Korea's most powerful (file)]

The Hwasong missile series is one of North Korea's most powerful (file)

And now, seemingly true to their terrifying word, North Korea has just conducted another alarming weapons test using a missile with nuclear capabilities. Overnight, South Korean and Japanese defence forces detected a ballistic missile launched from the coastal area of Wonsan.

The weapon, which analysts suspect could be part of an advanced hypersonic or tactical nuclear programme, flew for more than 400 miles before crashing into the sea. The test was widely seen as a direct and aggressive protest against the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills between Washington and Seoul.

Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies told Yonhap news: It could be a repeat of last week's launch following its suspected failure and is believed to be a test-firing aimed at improving its missile capabilities.

Given the intensifying war in Ukraine, it could also be a test to upgrade the Hwasong-11 missiles, which are designed to carry tactical nuclear warheads.

The Hawsong-11 missile can carry nuclear or chemical warheads, and has been used by Russia's army during its invasion of Ukraine since North Korea sent more than 50,000 troops to help Putin out.

The missile used in testing was not thought to have had a nuclear warhead attached to it, and officials in South Korea, the US and Japan are said to be analysing the trajectory of where if could have gone if it hadn't been programmed to crash into the sea nearby.

No actual images of the test have been made public, although it was picked up on closed satellite networks.

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