Seoul, South Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test-firing of two types of new anti-air missiles, state media said on Sunday, displaying his expanding military capabilities as the South Korean and US militaries carry out joint drills.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the test on Saturday proved the missiles effective in countering aerial threats such as drones and cruise missiles, and that Kim assigned unspecified “important” tasks to defence scientists ahead of a major political conference expected early next year.
The report did not specify the missiles that were tested or where the event took place. It did not mention any remarks by Kim directed at Washington or Seoul.
Kim Jong-un supervising the latest test of anti-air missiles at an undisclosed location, in an image provided by the North Korean government.Credit: AP
The test coincided with new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, where they vowed to strengthen bilateral co-operation and their trilateral partnership with the United States to address common challenges, including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Lee was to depart for Washington on Sunday for a summit with US President Donald Trump.
Kim’s government has repeatedly dismissed calls by Seoul and Washington to restart long-stalled negotiations aimed at winding down his nuclear weapons and missiles programs, as he continues to prioritise Russia as part of a foreign policy aimed at expanding ties with nations confronting the United States.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kim has sent thousands of troops and large shipments of weapons, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to help fuel President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.
A photo provided by the North Korean government showing the test-firing of the new anti-air missile.Credit: AP
That has raised concerns Moscow could provide technology that strengthens Kim’s nuclear-armed military, with experts pointing to North Korea’s ageing anti-air and radar systems as a likely area of co-operation.
South Korea’s previous conservative government said in November that Russia supplied missiles and other equipment to help strengthen air defences of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, but did not specify which systems were provided.