North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the distribution of 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers to border troops, according to state media KCNA on Monday. Seoul believes these launchers, described by KCNA as a cutting-edge tactical attack weapon designed by Kim himself, are meant to intimidate South Korea. North Korea recently tested a new tactical ballistic missile. Lee Sung-joon, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, speculated that deploying these launchers near the border suggests their range is limited.
In a speech, Kim accused the United States of establishing a "nuclear-based military bloc," compelling his country to bolster its military strength. North Korea has consistently criticized joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea, viewing them as a prelude to invasion. A spokesperson from Seoul's unification ministry highlighted North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs as the chief threat to peace on the Korean peninsula. Kim announced in his speech that North Korea would enhance its nuclear readiness to counter nuclear threats and safeguard itself.
Kim's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, made her first public appearance in nearly three months at the event, as shown in KCNA photos. South Korean lawmakers believe she is being groomed to succeed her father. While North Korean state media has covered her public activities, it has not disclosed her political aspirations.
