North Korea’s Kim Hails ‘New-Type Weapon’ Days After Missile Launch

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of a “new-type weapon” system, with state media describing it as a demonstration of the country’s advancing military technology.

The test was conducted on Sunday, two days after South Korea and Japan reported that North Korea had fired two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast. Both countries condemned the launches as a threat to regional peace and security.

North Korea’s missile bureau “successfully tested a new type of weapon” in Kim’s presence, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday. Pyongyang did not disclose details of the weapon system but said Kim described the test as a “striking demonstration of ultra-modern defense technology.”

Kim warned that such military advances would give North Korea’s adversaries “an incurable headache and a very cruel and unavoidable blow,” according to KCNA.

The latest test came eight days after North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang later described those launches as part of a joint firepower exercise involving long-range artillery and missiles, claiming the weapons hit their targets with “100 percent accuracy.”

In Tuesday’s report, Kim linked the latest weapon test to North Korea’s military preparedness, saying that acquiring such technology was important for the country’s war readiness and the future development of its armed forces.

South Korea condemned the missile launches as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and urged Pyongyang to stop its ballistic missile activities.

Japan also lodged a “stern protest” with North Korea, saying the launches posed a threat to regional peace and security.

North Korea has legally established itself as a nuclear-armed state and has repeatedly said that its nuclear arsenal is permanent and irreversible.

Last week, Pyongyang rejected an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution calling for an end to its nuclear activities. North Korea said the resolution had no impact on its status as a nuclear weapons state, describing that status as “irreversibly and permanently fixed” under its laws.

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the IAEA resolution, saying it had “no effect on the DPRK’s position as a nuclear weapons state.”

Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, has also recently described North Korea’s nuclear-armed status as “absolute” and criticised those calling for the country’s denuclearisation.