NK holds anti-air raid drill during Kim`s U.S. visit: Global Times

North Korea conducted civil air defense drills on Mar. 6-8, when President Kim Dae-Jung was visiting the United States, the Global Times, sister paper of China`s People`s Daily, reported in its Pyongyang dispatch Tuesday. The anti-air raid drills were conducted six times over three days, twice a day from 11 a.m. to noon and 8 to 9 p.m., the paper said.

North Korea conducts anti-air raid drills in March and November almost every year, except for last year when the first-ever inter-Korean summit was held.

Taking into consideration that the drills were conducted during Kim`s U.S. trip, they might be connected to the North`s relations with the U.S., the paper explained.

Lee Jong-Hwan ljhzip@donga.com