The official Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of strategic cruise missile launches as South Korea and the United States commenced their annual military exercises, which Pyongyang perceives as a final preparation for war. The agency noted that Kim visited a naval fleet stationed on the eastern coast to inspect the test on a warship, without specifying the date of the visit.
It stated that the purpose of the launch was to verify "the combat capabilities of the ship and the characteristics of its missile system" while enhancing the crew's ability to execute "offensive missions in actual combat." Additionally, the agency mentioned that the missile launched from the ship successfully hit its target. Kim praised the ship, stating it "has high mobility, strong striking power, and is always ready for combat to address sudden situations."
The South Korean Ministry of Defense indicated it detected signs of the launch, but claimed that the assertions from the North Korean news agency are "exaggerated" and "differ from the facts," without going into details. This latest missile test coincided with the start of joint drills aimed at improving response to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
Pyongyang condemned the military exercises of the allied countries, describing them as a final preparation for nuclear war. The South Korean military reported that the exercises this year would occur on "the largest scale ever," involving tens of thousands of troops from both sides, as well as some United Nations member countries.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated the exercises include various emergency scenarios, including cyber and terrorist attacks, drone strikes, and misinformation campaigns from the North. In a National Security Council meeting, he remarked, "True peace can only be maintained through striking power, not by begging or showing goodwill unilaterally. North Korea speaks of preemptive nuclear strikes and preparations for offensive war, but we will respond immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocations."
The North Korean agency reported that Kim pledged from the ship to support the navy "with enhanced combat capabilities and fully modernized equipment for offensive and defensive capabilities from the surface and below." He added, "We will establish incentives to modernize weapons and naval equipment, including building powerful warships and developing weapon systems that operate onboard ships and underwater."
