SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of two new types of anti-air missiles, which state media reported on Sunday. This display of military capabilities comes amid ongoing joint military drills conducted by South Korean and U.S. forces.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) indicated that the missile tests, conducted on Saturday, demonstrated effectiveness against aerial threats, including drones and cruise missiles. Following the tests, Kim assigned unspecified “important” tasks to defense scientists in anticipation of a significant political conference scheduled for early next year.
Details about the specific missiles tested or the location of the event were not disclosed in the report. Furthermore, there were no comments from Kim directed at either Washington or Seoul regarding these developments.
The timing of the missile tests coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Tokyo, where he engaged in a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening their trilateral partnership with the United States to address shared challenges, notably North Korea's escalating nuclear ambitions. Following the Tokyo summit, Lee was slated to travel to Washington for further discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Kim's administration has persistently rejected calls from Seoul and Washington to resume long-stalled negotiations aimed at dismantling its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Instead, the North Korean leader has been prioritizing relations with Russia, aligning with nations that confront U.S. influence on the global stage.
In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Kim has reportedly sent thousands of troops and significant shipments of military supplies to assist President Vladimir Putin's military efforts. This deepening military cooperation has fueled concerns that Russia may provide technology that could enhance the capabilities of North Korea's aging military systems, including anti-aircraft and radar technologies.
Furthermore, the previous South Korean administration highlighted in November that Russia had supplied missiles and equipment to bolster North Korea's air defense systems, although specific details on the systems provided were not mentioned. Kim recently held a ceremony in Pyongyang to commend North Korean soldiers who participated in the conflict in Ukraine, awarding state “hero” titles to returning soldiers and honoring those who lost their lives in battle.
According to assessments from South Korean intelligence, North Korea has dispatched approximately 15,000 troops to Russia since the fall of last year, with reports indicating that around 600 of these soldiers have died in combat. Additionally, Kim has agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to assist in Russia's Kursk region, with South Korean intelligence agencies anticipating that this deployment could occur soon.
