North Korea’s Kim oversees test launch of long-range cruise missiles | Kim Jong Un News

Kim Jong Un calls for “unlimited and sustained” development of nuclear combat forces as North Korea prepares for a key party congress.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles and called for the “unlimited and sustained” development of his country’s nuclear combat forces, according to state media.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday that Kim expressed satisfaction when the cruise missiles flew past their orbit, located over the sea to the west of the Korean Peninsula, and hit their target.

The launch, which took place on Sunday, was the latest event Kim attended, part of a flurry of activities by the North Korean leader aimed at highlighting the country’s military and economic progress ahead of a key party congress expected to be held in early 2026.

The meeting will outline a development plan for North Korea for the next five years.

Kim said that “verifying the reliability and rapid response of the components of [North Korea’s] nuclear deterrence on a regular basis… [is] “This is simply a responsible exercise,” as the country “faces various threats to its security.” He also asserted that Pyongyang would continue to devote “all efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state’s nuclear fighting force,” KCNA reported.

KCNA did not specify the area in which the missiles were launched.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported Monday that the South Korean military detected the launch of several missiles from the Sunan region, near Pyongyang, on Sunday morning.

He warned that North Korea could conduct additional missile tests at the end of the year.

Separately, KCNA reported Thursday that Kim also inspected an 8,700-ton “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” under construction and warned that South Korea’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines would pose a threat to North Korea’s security that “must be countered.”

It was the first time that North Korean state media released images of the submarine since March, where they mainly showed the lower parts of the ship.

At Thursday’s event, Kim was accompanied by his daughter, a possible successor, and oversaw the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.

Kim has witnessed several facility openings, including factories and hotels, over the past month, as the country races to finalize its current “five-year plan” for development before convening the ninth congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea in early 2026.

Last November, North Korea also conducted a ballistic missile test, just over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump, touring the region, expressed interest in meeting Kim. Pyongyang did not respond to this offer.

At that time, Trump had just approved South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine.

Since Kim’s failed summit with Trump in 2019 on the scope of denuclearization and sanctions relief, Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state.

Kim has since been emboldened by Russia’s war against Ukraine, gaining key support from Moscow after sending thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces.