North Korea Claims "Strategic Missile Launch Drill"... Kim Jong-un Vows to "Advance Nuclear Deterrence"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, observed an "intermediate-range strategic missile launch drill" yesterday (October 3) and stated that the purpose of such activities is to "advance nuclear deterrence."

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that "an intermediate-range strategic missile launch drill was conducted at dawn on the 3rd [October 3] from the eastern region into the East Sea of Korea," stating that it was part of efforts to train the skills of missile soldiers operating hypersonic strategic weapon systems and to evaluate the reliability, effectiveness, and mobility of war deterrence.

Photos released by the news agency showed that General Secretary Kim's daughter Ju-ae and his wife Ri Sol-ju also visited the site.

North Korea claimed that the missile hit a targeted point set at latitude 43°36′28.04″ and longitude 138°00′47.02″ at a distance of 1,000 km in the East Sea.

General Secretary Kim Jong-un emphasized that they must "continually pursue efforts without pause to constantly and repeatedly make adversaries aware of the reliability and lethality of strategic strike means," adding, "As we transparently state each time, such activities of ours are clearly aimed at further advancing the country's nuclear war deterrence."

He added that there can be no change in this view and line in today's geopolitical environment.

Yesterday's drill was also attended by Kim Jong-sik, First Vice Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Jang Chang-ha, Director of the General Missile Bureau.

(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.