North Korea conducted new missile tests on Friday, the fourth in just days, as leader Kim Jong Un ordered the country’s naval forces to “boost their war readiness.”
The South Korean army stated today that its northern neighbor launched several cruise missiles off its western coast, with the launch taking place at 2 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time. However, further details about the tests were not provided.
This marks the fourth time within slightly over a week that Pyongyang has conducted such tests.
Earlier, North Korea described these missiles as “strategic,” implying their potential capability for nuclear purposes. The country announced that it had tested new submarine-launched cruise missiles, with Kim overseeing the launch operation.
In a related move, Kim urged the naval forces to intensify their war preparedness and protect maritime sovereignty during his visit to a shipbuilding facility, as reported by local official media today.
Orders and Commitments
North Korea’s Central News Agency stated that Kim, during his visit to the Nambo Shipbuilding Complex, emphasized that enhancing naval forces is the most crucial matter in modernizing the country’s shipbuilding industry. The agency did not specify the date of the president’s visit.
Kim was briefed on ongoing preparations for building warships and subsequently directed officials to implement the five-year military development plan, which was presented during the 2021 Party Conference, without any constraints, according to the central news agency.
During the main meeting, Kim pledged to develop advanced weapons, including a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic “hyper-sonic” missile, a spy satellite, and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.
