North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles on Sunday, in what state media described as a test confirming the country’s nuclear deterrent and readiness to respond to security threats.
The missiles flew along a trajectory over waters west of the Korean Peninsula before striking their target, the state news agency KCNA reported on Monday.
Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the launch, calling regular checks of the country’s nuclear deterrent a “responsible exercise” amid what he described as ongoing security challenges facing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim said North Korea would continue devoting all its efforts to the “unlimited” development of its nuclear combat force, KCNA said.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles at around 8 a.m. on Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.
South Korean defence officials said a series of recent North Korean military activities, including reported work on a nuclear-powered submarine, were undermining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The missile launch follows reports last week that Kim observed the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine alongside his daughter and oversaw the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that additional missile tests could take place around the New Year, though South Korea’s military declined to comment.
Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said the latest launch was likely aimed at testing upgrades to cruise missiles capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
The missile test comes amid a period of heightened activity by Kim ahead of a ruling Workers’ Party congress scheduled for early 2026. In recent weeks, Kim has attended a series of military inspections as well as the opening of industrial and infrastructure projects, including a paper mill inaugurated on Sunday.
North Korea is expected to convene the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in early 2026, as it seeks to complete its current five-year development plan.
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in th...
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport an...
At least four people have died and four others remain missing after flash floods swept through a mountainous village in northern Vietnam, as days of h...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 18th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Germany and France pledged on Friday to strengthen defence cooperation, boost collaboration on nuclear deterrence and coordinate their response to economic challenges posed by China, as Europe seeks greater strategic autonomy amid global uncertainty.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has criticised the latest U.S. sanctions on Cuba, accusing Washington of reviving a "new and more dangerous version of McCarthyism" through a campaign against what he called the global "radical left."
More than 10.7 million women and girls in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance in 2026 as funding cuts, restrictions and shortages of female health workers place maternal services under growing pressure, the United Nations says.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
At least four people have died and four others remain missing after flash floods swept through a mountainous village in northern Vietnam, as days of heavy rain continue to batter the region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 18th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel killed at least eight Palestinians in an airstrike that hit mourners attending a funeral in central Gaza on Friday, according to local health officials, in one of the deadliest attacks reported in the strip since a ceasefire took effect last October.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 2,181 confirmed Ebola cases, including 864 deaths, according to government data released late on Friday.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws to a close, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on FIFA to bring the tournament back to the United States.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment