North Korea's Kim Oversaw Hypersonic Missile Drill, KCNA Says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of a strategic medium-range missile using a hypersonic weapon system, state media said, underscoring his intention to further strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent.

The missile was fired at dawn on Saturday toward waters off North Korea’s east coast, the Korean Central News Agency said on Sunday, adding that the missile flew in a northeasterly direction and hit its intended target about 1,000 kilometers away.

Kim’s daughter Ju Ae also appeared to be watching the exercise, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing photos released by North Korean state media. Images showed Kim and his daughter watching the launch, as well as a monitor showing the missile’s flight path, Yonhap said.

Kim Jong-un said North Korea must repeatedly demonstrate to its enemies the “reliability and lethality” of its strategic offensive weapons, according to KCNA. He described such exercises as part of efforts to further strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent and said nothing would change in that policy.

South Korea’s military has stepped up surveillance and preparedness and said it was analyzing the missile with US authorities. The president’s National Security Agency also called an emergency meeting on Saturday and called on Pyongyang to halt the launches, which Seoul says are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

“The launch of ballistic missiles from North Korea constitutes a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions,” South Korea’s defense ministry said on Sunday. “We call on North Korea to immediately stop actions that increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and to join efforts to restore peace.”

With the help of Soobin Kim.

This article was generated from an automated news agency source without text modification.