Seoul
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised a large-scale rocket launch exercise involving 12 powerful 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
The test took place shortly after the United States and South Korea began their annual joint military drills, further heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
During the drill, North Korea launched a series of rockets aimed at a target island located in the Sea of Japan. State media reported that the rockets struck a target approximately 364.4 kilometres away with “100 percent accuracy.” The exercise was intended to demonstrate the destructive capability of the country’s tactical weapons systems and to warn adversaries operating within the weapons’ estimated 420-kilometre strike range.
Images released by state media showed Kim observing the tests alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is widely believed by analysts to be a potential successor. Her continued appearances at high-profile military events have drawn attention from international observers and sparked speculation about her future role within the North Korean leadership structure.
According to KCNA, Kim said the exercise was meant to send a clear message to what he described as hostile forces, emphasizing the ability of North Korea’s tactical weapons to strike targets quickly and effectively. The report added that the test would “give enemies a deep understanding” of the destructive power associated with such weapons systems.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea fired more than ten ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast on Saturday. The launches were detected from an area near Pyongyang at around 1:20 p.m. local time. According to officials in Seoul, the missiles traveled roughly 350 kilometres before landing in the sea.
The tests came days after the United States and South Korea began their annual joint military exercises, which Pyongyang frequently condemns as preparations for invasion. Washington and Seoul, however, maintain that the drills are defensive in nature.
Security analysts warn that the latest launches could further escalate regional tensions, as North Korea continues to advance its missile capabilities while criticizing joint military activities by the United States and its allies.