By Riffat Kausar
Scandinavian News Agency
North Korea Weapon Test Overseen by Kim Jong Un
North Korea’s latest weapon test, overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, was described by officials in Pyongyang as a display of “state-of-the-art” defense technology, according to state media reports. The specific weapon tested was not identified in that announcement.
State media photos released around the test showed a road-mobile missile appearing to carry a hypersonic glide vehicle, though North Korea did not formally confirm this was the weapon referenced in its statement. Kim characterized the country’s advanced weapons capability as a deterrent against external threats, state media said.
South Korea Reports Two Ballistic Missile Launches
On the same day, South Korea’s military said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first missile was fired in the afternoon from the Wonsan area and flew roughly 450 kilometers before falling into the sea.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense said a second launch was detected several hours later, traveling more than 590 kilometers from North Korea’s east coast before landing in the same waters. Officials in Seoul and Washington had not yet finished assessing the missile’s technical details, the ministry noted.” authorities were still analyzing the missile’s exact specifications.
North Korea Weapon Test Fits Pattern of Rising Launches
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters the two launches brought North Korea’s total ballistic missile launches this year to at least 15, spread across nine separate instances. He said that figure represented roughly double the number of instances and about three times the number of missiles recorded over the same period last year.
Koizumi described the regional security situation as “growing increasingly severe.” Japan’s government separately said the launches came within days of North Korea reasserting its status as a nuclear-armed state and rejecting a United Nations resolution calling on it to halt nuclear activities.
Key facts:
- North Korea conducted a weapon test overseen by Kim Jong Un, calling it “state-of-the-art” defense technology without naming the weapon.
- South Korea reported two short-range ballistic missiles fired the same day toward the Sea of Japan — one traveling about 450 km, the other over 590 km.
- The launches raised North Korea’s 2026 total to at least 15 ballistic missiles across nine instances, roughly triple last year’s pace, per Japan’s defense minister.
- Tokyo filed an official complaint over the launches, while officials from the three allied governments spoke by phone to align on how to respond.”
- The tests followed North Korea’s rejection of a UN resolution demanding it halt nuclear activities.
- Weapon Test
FAQs:
What weapon did North Korea test?
North Korean state media did not identify the specific weapon, describing it only as advanced defense technology. Some photos suggested a road-mobile missile with a possible hypersonic glide vehicle, but this was not officially confirmed.
Where were the ballistic missiles launched from?
South Korea’s military said the missiles were launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast.
How far did the missiles travel?
The first missile flew about 450 kilometers; the second traveled more than 590 kilometers, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
How many missiles has North Korea launched in 2026?
At least 15 ballistic missiles across nine separate instances, according to Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi about three times last year’s total.
How have other countries responded?
Japan formally protested the launches, and South Korea, Japan and the United States held consultations to coordinate their response.
Regional and International Reaction
Japan’s Ministry of Defense said the repeated launches of ballistic missiles and other projectiles threaten peace and security in the region and internationally. Japan’s government lodged a formal protest with North Korea over the tests.
Senior officials from South Korea, Japan and the United States held phone consultations to coordinate a response to the developments, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry. As of this report, neither the exact weapon system tested nor its full capabilities had been independently confirmed by outside governments.
North Korea test-launches ballistic missiles, South Korea and Japan say
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