South Korea’s Lee plans to call for phased denuclearization of North Korea at UN

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un witnessed the test of a new type of weapon system, claiming it showcased the nation's advanced military capabilities, according to state media on Tuesday. This announcement followed South Korea and Japan's condemnation of Pyongyang's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles from waters off its eastern coast, deeming the actions threats to regional stability.

North Korea has formally recognized its nuclear arsenal as permanent and irreversible, with its leadership regularly declaring the status. The missile bureau reportedly successfully tested the new weapon in Kim's presence on Sunday, though the specifics of the weapon were not disclosed. Kim lauded the launch as a "striking demonstration of ultra-modern defense technology," warning it would cause adversaries great difficulty and a harsh blow.

The Sunday launches followed a previous drill eight days earlier involving long-range artillery and missiles, with state media reporting the weapons accurately hitting targets. Kim connected Sunday's test to the country's military readiness, emphasizing its significance in the state's war preparation and armed forces' future development.

Seoul denounced the launches as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and urged North Korea to cease its ballistic missile activities, while Japan lodged a strong protest against the actions, calling them a threat to regional peace and security. North Korea recently rejected an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution demanding a halt to its nuclear activities, asserting its nuclear status is "irreversibly and permanently fixed" by its laws.

The North's foreign ministry spokesperson stated the IAEA resolution holds no effect on the DPRK's nuclear weapons status. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the leader, recently labeled the country's nuclear-armed status as "absolute" and dismissed calls for denuclearization as "idiocy."