North Korea's state media KCNA announced on August 4 that the country's troops have been equipped with a new tactical ballistic missile system. According to Yonhap news agency, which cited KCNA, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the ceremonial handover of the ballistic missile system in Pyongyang. The Korean Central News Agency revealed that 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers, considered pivotal military hardware, were showcased. KCNA's released photos indicate that the weapon system might be the 'Hwasong-11' launcher, slated for deployment near the military demarcation line with South Korea, as reported by Yonhap.

During his address to the military at the event, Kim Jong Un highlighted that the US-led alliance has transformed into a nuclear-powered military bloc and declared that Pyongyang will strengthen its nuclear readiness to counter nuclear threats and safeguard itself against any challenges. The ceremony took place amid recent flood disasters in North Korea. In July, the country had tested its new tactical missile following the 'Freedom Edge' military drills conducted by the United States, South Korea, and Japan. In June, the United States, Japan, and South Korea jointly issued a statement strongly opposing unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters and condemning North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology.

This statement followed a meeting involving US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, and South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun in Little Washington, Virginia. At the Quad meeting in July, Australia, India, the United States, and Japan collectively condemned Pyongyang's actions violating UN Security Council resolutions. The joint statement expressed grave concern over North Korea's destabilizing missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as its use of proliferation linkages, cyber activities, and overseas workers to fund its illegal weapons and missile programs.

In a separate development, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang on June 19, Russia and North Korea signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which includes provisions for immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on either party.