North Korea fires ballistic missile

On October 4, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile and emphasized the need to strengthen the lethality of the nation's offensive weaponry, according to state media. The missile was fired toward the East Sea at dawn on Saturday as part of a training exercise for missile troops operating the hypersonic strategic weapon system, reported the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim stressed the importance of demonstrating the military's counterattack capabilities in a constant state of readiness, stating that the regime must continuously and repeatedly prove the reliability and potency of its strategic offensive means. Kim, who was accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae and wife Ri Sol-ju, also highlighted that the missile launch aims to hasten the development of the country's nuclear war deterrent.

State media photos showed the leader overseeing the launch. The missile, which flew over 700 kilometers, struck a target 1,000 kilometers away from the East Sea. South Korean military officials earlier reported detecting North Korea firing a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area early Saturday morning. However, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, claimed that South Korean and Japanese military tracking efforts were limited and failed to accurately track the missile's trajectory.

Experts suggested the missile might be the Hwasong-16 Na hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, based on North Korea's media reports about the missile's ability to alter its flight path at low altitude. The missile launch came as tensions have escalated over last month's land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers.

Seoul attributed the incident to North Korea, demanding an apology and corrective measures, while Pyongyang denied responsibility and threatened "merciless retaliation" if the South took any retaliatory actions.