North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly supervised the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles on December 28, according to the state news agency KCNA. This is one of many activities that Mr. Kim Jong-un attended to emphasize North Korea's military and economic progress ahead of the important Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea scheduled to take place in early 2026.
KCNA said that during the launch, Mr. Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction" when the missiles flew in orbit over the western sea of the Korean peninsula and hit the intended target.
Mr. Kim Jong-un emphasized that regularly checking the reliability and rapid response capabilities of components of the nuclear deterrence force is a responsible action, in the context that North Korea is facing many security threats.
The North Korean military launched 2 long-range strategic cruise missiles, the missiles hit targets after flying for 5 hours and 40 minutes. North Korea has not announced details about this type of weapon. However, Pyongyang often uses the word "strategic" to refer to weapons that can carry nuclear warheads.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim Jong-un affirmed that North Korea will continue to devote all its efforts to the "unlimited" development of its nuclear combat force. This statement shows Pyongyang's determination to strengthen strategic military capabilities.
On the South Korean side, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the country's military had detected multiple cruise missile launches from the Sunan area, near Pyongyang. This information confirmed that the missile launch took place in reality, but did not provide further detailed assessments.
The new launch took place after KCNA reported last week that Kim Jong-un and his daughter had supervised the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, and also supervised the testing of long-range surface-to-air missiles. North Korea may conduct more missile tests in the near future, according to a South Korean military official.
In addition to military activities, KCNA said that Mr. Kim Jong-un also attended the inauguration ceremony of a paper factory. Recently, he has appeared at many factory opening ceremonies, hotels and other infrastructure, as North Korea strives to complete its current 5-year development plan before the upcoming Party Congress.
