North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the test-firing of hypersonic missiles on Sunday, saying the launch was made necessary by “the recent geopolitical crisis,” according to state-run media.
The news, reported on Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), confirmed that this was North Korea’s first missile launch of 2026. KCNA revealed that the test featured a “cutting-edge” weapon system, described as hypersonic missiles previously trialed in October—an event Kim Jong Un did not attend at the time.
Applauding the drill on Sunday, Kim said “important achievements have been recently made in putting our nuclear forces on a practical basis and preparing them for an actual war.” He pointed to recent international tensions as the reason for ramping up military readiness, saying, “Why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events.”
North Korea also condemned the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling it a “serious encroachment of sovereignty.” State media reported that Pyongyang sees the event as a nightmare scenario, reinforcing its long-standing belief that Washington is aiming to topple the North Korean regime.
For years, North Korea has justified its nuclear and missile programs as self-defense against perceived US attempts at regime change.
South Korea’s military confirmed it detected the missile launches into the Sea of Japan early Sunday morning, saying it spotted “several projectiles, presumed to be ballistic missiles,” fired from near Pyongyang around 7:50 am local time.
KCNA didn’t say exactly how many missiles were launched, but reported they hit targets 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) away in the Sea of Japan.
The timing of the test came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China for a four-day visit. President Lee, who is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is hoping the trip will boost economic ties between Seoul and its largest trading partner.
