During the event, North Korea test-fired diverse drones, missiles, and weapons from 600 mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers. The display occurred only hours after South Korea reported the North had launched roughly 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea. Beyond its military maneuvers, Pyongyang is balancing foreign relations, with Kim recently making an unannounced visit to a Chinese border town to bolster ties with Beijing.
Key points
Pyongyang is escalating its military posturing through drone developments and missile tes…: Pyongyang is escalating its military posturing through drone developments and missile tests amid rising tensions with Seoul.
The heightened weapons activity may serve to generate bargaining power for potential nego…: The heightened weapons activity may serve to generate bargaining power for potential negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Kim Jong Un is actively strengthening diplomatic relations with China following extensive…: Kim Jong Un is actively strengthening diplomatic relations with China following extensive military support provided to Russia's war effort.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for rapidly expanding the country's drone technology and observed tests of various weapons, state media reported Friday, as his nation remains embroiled in a standoff with rival South Korea along their heavily fortified border.
The report came a day after South Korea's military said North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea in what were its first ballistic weapons firings in 17 days.
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim on Thursday visited an exhibition of a variety of attack and other drones that show recent achievements in the field of unmanned aeronautical technology.
In a speech at the exhibition, Kim stressed the need to seize "the absolute superiority in the drone technology" and announced unspecified steps needed to "rapidly expand and strengthen the unmanned aeronautical technology," KCNA said.
To mark the event, KCNA said that North Korea later conducted test-launches of various drones, missiles and weapons from the 600 mm-calibre ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers. KCNA photos showed Kim watching soaring weapons or him clenching his fist…
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