"Might Meet Kim Jong-un": North Korea Flaunts 'Strategic Weapons Against U.S.'

[Anchor]

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he might meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to Asia next month. Amid this, Kim inspected a new exhibition hall displaying strategic weapons aimed at the United States, while releasing a calibrated message seemingly conscious of Washington.

Reporter Kim Ayeong reports.

[Reporter]

U.S. President Trump has once again expressed his willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the APEC summit to be held in Shenzhen, China, in mid-November.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: (Do you have plans to meet with Kim Jong-un during your visit to Asia next month?) I could. I could. It'd be interesting. But I get along well with him.]

While North Korea has neither confirmed nor denied Trump's remarks, Chairman Kim headed to a new exhibition space showcasing an array of strategic weapons directed at the United States.

Kim visited the "Museum of National Defense Revolution," which opened two days ago on October 11, and released footage of the event today, two days later.

A total of five types of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were put on display, ranging from the Hwasong-15 to the Hwasong-20.

In front of the multiple-warhead ICBM, the Hwasong-20, a world map was mounted on a gold panel, seemingly flaunting its capability to strike the U.S. mainland.

North Korea also unveiled a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

[Shin Jong-woo / Secretary General, Korea Defense and Security Forum: (The new SLBM) clearly shows two-stage separation. This likely means it can fly quite a long distance, and it is presumed to be what North Korea refers to as an (underwater-launched) strategic ballistic missile.]

Analysts suggest the exhibition was intended to highlight accomplishments in the defense sector as Kim's leadership achievements while also demonstrating deterrence against the United States.

However, Kim delivered relatively toned-down remarks without issuing aggressive messages toward Washington.

[Korean Central Television: (Chairman Kim Jong-un affirmed that) powerful Juche weapons will continue to be developed and perfected unabated, and the scale and contents of the museum will be expanded and enriched day by day.]

This is interpreted as a strategic move to leave room for future engagement by avoiding provoking President Trump and maintaining strategic ambiguity toward the United States.

(Video Editing: Cho Mu-hwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.