Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, supervised the testing of a new type of missile aimed at sea targets, as reported by state media on Thursday. This move is part of North Korea's apparent efforts to enhance its maritime security.
This year, Kim has intensified tensions by labeling South Korea as the "principal enemy," dismantling organizations dedicated to reunification, and issuing threats of war over even minor territorial disputes.
North Korea has significantly increased its weapons testing activities, including launching cruise missiles, testing an underwater nuclear weapon system, and firing a solid-fueled hypersonic ballistic missile.
South Korea's military reported detecting the launch of multiple cruise missiles by North Korea on Wednesday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim oversaw the evaluation test-fire of the new surface-to-sea missile named Padasuri-6, which is intended for navy use. Kim expressed satisfaction with the test results, stating that the missiles hit their targets after flying for 1,400 seconds over the East Sea.
Kim accused South Korea of allowing various types of battleships to intrude into North Korean waters, undermining its sovereignty. He pledged to defend North Korea's maritime sovereignty forcefully rather than through rhetoric.
Earlier this year, Kim announced that North Korea would no longer recognize the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, describing it as having no basis in international law.
Recently, North Korea disclosed testing a new control system for a multiple rocket launcher, indicating its increased military capabilities. Some experts speculate that North Korea might be testing these weapons before potentially sending them to Russia for use in Ukraine.
North Korea's relations with Moscow have strengthened in recent months, highlighted by Kim's rare visit to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin in September. South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of violating UN sanctions by shipping arms to Russia.
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