North Korea's Kim oversees cruise missile launches

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles, which confirmed the integrity of its nuclear power and counter-attack readiness in the face of security threats, state media KCNA said on Monday. The launch is ​the latest event attended by Kim in a flurry of activity by the North Korean ‌leader to underscore the country's military and economic progress before a key ruling party congress expected to be held in early 2026.
Kim expressed 'great satisfaction' as the cruise missiles flew along their orbit above the sea west of the Korean Peninsula ‌and hit their target, KCNA said. Kim said 'checking the reliability ‍and rapid response of ‌the components of the DPRK's nuclear deterrent on a regular basis... (is) just a ‍responsible exercise,' as the country 'is facing various security threats,' using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim affirmed that North Korea would keep devoting all its efforts to the 'unlimited' development of its nuclear combat force, KCNA said. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday its military had detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles around 8 am on Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. — Reuters