The Ministry of Defence has greenlit a new simulation training programme, codenamed ‘Operation White Noise’, that mirrors the escalating threat vector from North Korea. This is not a game. It is a direct response to Pyongyang’s accelerated missile tests and cyber warfare capabilities that now pose a credible risk to European infrastructure.
The software, developed in partnership with BAE Systems, embeds real intelligence feeds into a wargaming environment designed to train British commanders in countering cascading simultaneous attacks. This is a strategic pivot from counter-insurgency back to state-on-state confrontation. The hardware: a distributed network of laptops and VR headsets that link to live satellite imagery and signals intelligence.
The logistics: a monthly rotation of units through simulated strikes on hardened North Korean artillery sites. The intelligence failure? We underestimated the speed of Kim’s solid-fuel missile programme.
Now we are playing catch-up. The programme’s classified annex suggests focusing on electromagnetic pulse weapons and underwater drones. This is not just about defence.
It is about deterrence. Every click in this simulation sends a message to Pyongyang: we are watching, we are practising, and we are ready to degrade your nuclear second-strike capability.
