North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gestures as he visits a greenhouse farm construction site along the country’s border with China, in North Korea, January 2, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via Reuters
SEOUL—North Korea test-fired hypersonic missiles on Sunday, state media KCNA reported on Monday, to assess its military operational capability regarding war deterrence.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the missile launch, said: “It’s a very important strategy to maintain or expand the strong and reliable nuclear deterrent,” because of “the recent geopolitical crisis and various international circumstances,” according to KCNA.
