Pyongyang: North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday that Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un inspected a submarine construction site and oversaw a test firing of a long-range surface-to-air missile.
According to Thai News Agency, the missile test took place on Wednesday off the east coast and was aimed at evaluating strategic technologies for the development of new high-altitude ballistic missiles. The missile successfully struck airborne targets up to 200 kilometers away. Yonhap news agency reported that the South Korean military confirmed the test was detected at 5:00 PM local time (two hours ahead of Thailand time) and stated that they had been monitoring the situation and were prepared to respond.
In addition, Kim Jong-un inspected a project to build an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching surface-to-air missiles. This project is part of a five-point policy to modernize North Korea’s navy. However, KCNA did not disclose the location or date of the visit.
State media photographs showed Kim Jong-un and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, standing side-by-side inside a shipyard with a large, red hull. South Korean analysts believe the appearance of the submarine indicates that it has a nuclear reactor installed and is almost ready for operation.
North Korean leader North Korea emphasized that developing nuclear capabilities and modernizing its navy is necessary and unavoidable given the current global situation is far from peaceful. He also expressed concern that South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines jointly with the United States, as well as the recent docking of a US nuclear submarine in Busan, escalates tensions and threatens regional security, forcing North Korea to take swift defensive measures.