“Kim Jong Un Watches Cruise Missiles Soar as U.S. and South Korea Kick Off Drills – What Happens Next is Surprising!”

During the visit, Kim emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s naval capabilities and modernizing weaponry. He highlighted the significance of ideological and spiritual strength among sailors. The testing followed a recent summit among US President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where they discussed enhanced cooperation against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

The US and South Korea maintain that their exercises are defensive in nature, while North Korea views them as a provocation. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 weapons tests, including nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. The summit leaders agreed to share real-time missile warning data on North Korea and conduct annual trilateral exercises.

North Korea, feeling pressured by these developments, is reportedly working on launching long-range missiles and a spy satellite. A previous attempt to launch a spy satellite ended in failure. The ongoing tensions reflect the complex dynamics in the region.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of powerful cruise missiles from a navy ship, according to state media on Monday. This occurred simultaneously with the start of annual military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea, which North Korea perceives as rehearsal for invasion. The report on the missile tests followed a summit where the leaders of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan agreed to strengthen security and economic ties. During Kim’s visit to an eastern coast naval flotilla, he inspected weaponry and combat readiness, and witnessed a drill involving the launch of “strategic” cruise missiles. While the specific timing of the missile launches wasn’t mentioned, a photo from state media showed Kim observing a missile launch from a different location, not the patrol boat. The use of the term “strategic” suggested these weapons could potentially carry nuclear warheads.

Kim expressed intent to enhance the North’s naval power by upgrading ships and underwater weaponry. He emphasized the importance of ideological and spiritual strength among sailors, valuing it more than mere numerical or technical superiority of arms, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Anticipated by many, North Korea resumed weapons testing in response to the ongoing U.S.-South Korean military training, named “Ulchi Freedom Shield.” The training is a computer-simulated exercise held at a command post, and both nations plan to conduct substantial field exercises. North Korea has traditionally criticized these joint drills as practice for aggression and countered them with missile tests. U.S. and South Korean officials contend that the exercises are defensive and not aimed at provoking North Korea.

Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 weapons tests, including nuclear-capable ballistic missiles designed to target the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. In response, the U.S. and South Korea expanded their regular training exercises. During a landmark summit at Camp David, the leaders of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan affirmed their commitment to sharing real-time missile warning data on North Korea and conducting annual trilateral exercises. This marked the first independent summit among the three nations. They also pledged to enhance ballistic missile defense cooperation against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea claims that the security cooperation among these three countries is pushing it to bolster its military capability. South Korea’s intelligence agency informed lawmakers that North Korea was making preparations for long-range missile launches and an attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit. The North’s previous satellite launch attempt in late May had failed, resulting in the rocket and satellite falling into the ocean shortly after liftoff.a