North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Oversees Test of Surface-To-Sea Missile
12:23 JST, February 15, 2024
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of a new surface-to-sea missile on Wednesday andvisited a major munitions factory, where he called for a boost in weapons production, KCNA said on Thursday.
North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, the latest of multiple such tests in recent weeks before an April general election in South Korea.
Kim said South Korea is violating the North’s sovereignty by insisting on a “Northern Limit Line” (NLL), the maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas, state media KCNA said.
Kim gave orders to strengthen military readiness in the waters north of Yeonpyeong Island and to the west of the Korean peninsula, in the region of the NLL, KCNA said.
“It is not important how many lines exist in the West Sea of Korea… when the enemy intrudes into the maritime border recognized by us, we will regard it as an encroachment upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and an armed provocation against it,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
The new missile, called Padasuri-6, or “Sea Eagle-6,” flew over the sea and hit its intended target, KCNA added.
Kim also inspected a “major” munitions factory and learned in detail about the modernization of production, the state media said.
The leader of the reclusive state also stressed the factory’s role in bolstering North Korea’s armed forces and laid out tasks to improve the quality of munitions and increase production as “required by the prevailing situation and the developing revolution,” KCNA said.
Kim’s visit to the munitions factory comes as the United States and its allies have accused North Korea of trading arms with Russia.
The White House last month said Russia had recently used short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) sourced from North Korea to conduct strikes against Ukraine, citing newly declassified intelligence.
"News Services" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
EU Ratchets up Pressure on TikTok’s New Rewards App over Risks to Kids, Warns of Suspension
-
Japan’s Nikkei Ends 1% Higher after Sharp Fall; Chip-Related Shares Weigh (Update 1)
-
Japan’s Yen Hits 155 Per Dollar, Weakest Since 1990
-
Japan’s Nikkei Stumbles as Yen Gains, Mixed US Peers (Update 1)
-
Strong Solar Storm Hits Earth, Could Disrupt Communications and Produce Northern Lights in US
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- Japanese Seafood Exports to China Sink 57% in FY23; U.S. Becomes Largest Seafood Export Destination
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- 48.6% of Global Patent Applications Related to All-Solid-State Batteries Came from Japanese Firms; Panasonic Tops List
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal