N. Korea’s Kim Oversaw Hypersonic Missile Drill, KCNA Says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un demonstrated the reliability and lethality of the country's strategic offensive weapons by overseeing the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile, state media reported. The hypersonic weapon was fired on Saturday morning off North Korea's eastern coast and flew 1,000 kilometers to a designated target, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim's daughter, Ju Ae, was also present, watching the drill via images released by North Korean state media. Kim emphasized that North Korea must regularly showcase the effectiveness of its strategic weapons to deter adversaries, stating that there will be no change in the country's nuclear policy. In response, South Korea bolstered its military surveillance and readiness, analyzing the missile in collaboration with US authorities.

The South Korean presidential National Security Office convened an emergency meeting, urging Pyongyang to halt launches that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea's defense ministry expressed disappointment, calling the launches a serious breach of international law and urging North Korea to cease actions that heighten tensions and join efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.