North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles on Wednesday at a site near the country's east coast, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. The test aimed to assess technology for developing a new type of high-altitude missile and successfully destroyed airborne targets 200 km away.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles on Wednesday at a launch site near the east coast, as reported by state media KCNA on Thursday, December 25. The exercise evaluated the nuclear-armed nation's strategic technology for a new type of high-altitude missile, successfully hitting airborne targets from 200 km (124 miles) away, according to KCNA.
Kim also inspected construction at a separate site for an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine designed to launch surface-to-air missiles. KCNA did not specify the location or date of the visit. This submarine initiative forms part of the North Korean Workers' Party's push to modernize the navy, one of five key defense policies aimed at bolstering military capabilities.
Kim was quoted by KCNA as saying that "the all-out development of nuclear capabilities and modernization of the Navy are essential and inevitable, while 'the present world is by no means peaceful'." He further stated that South Korea's agreement with Washington to develop a nuclear submarine would "further inflame tensions on the Korean Peninsula and poses a risk to national security that requires action."
In a separate statement, North Korean state media condemned the arrival of the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Greeneville at Busan port on Tuesday, describing it as "an act of escalating military tensions" in the region. The South Korean Navy said the submarine docked for crew shore leave and resupply.
Earlier this week, North Korea accused Japan of showing intentions to acquire nuclear weapons, spurred by South Korea's submarine developments.
These developments underscore rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with potential implications for regional security.
