According to KCNA state news agency on March 21, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised the test of the country's latest anti-aircraft missile system on March 20. He expressed his satisfaction and thanked the research team for developing this system.
KCNA said the test has proven the air defense system to be highly reliable and has outstanding combat response capabilities. This is part of the system's performance testing process before mass production.
KCNA did not disclose the location of the launch, but confirmed that Kim Jong-un attended with members of the Central Military Commission of the DPRK.
The trial took place at the same time that South Korea and other countries ended their annual joint military exercise called the "Friendship Flag" on March 20. While South Korea has claimed the drills were defensive, North Korea has long opposed them and viewed them as a provincecue, preparing for an invasion.
The North Korean Ministry of National Defense has criticized the exercise, calling it a "cold-crazy" act and "a war drill". The KCNA quoted a spokesperson for the ministry as emphasizing that all response options are being considered, including the use of "the most destructive military means". At the same time, North Korea has asked relevant military forces to immediately end actions that it considers a threat to regional security.
