This image, captured from the Rodong Sinmun daily on March 21, 2025, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiling contentedly after a missile test. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 21 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea has successfully test-fired its latest surface-to-air missile system, which was recently put into full-scale production, as leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test, state media reported Friday.
The test-firing was conducted by the country’s Missile Administration on Thursday to “examine the comprehensive performance” of the missile system being mass-produced at a munitions’ industry enterprise, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) noted.
Kim oversaw the test alongside key members of the party’s Central Military Commission, the KCNA said, claiming that it proved the anti-aircraft missile’s combat fast response is “advantageous” and “highly reliable.”
Photos released alongside the report showed what appeared to be a launched missile hitting a target and exploding, and Kim smiled contentedly apparently at the test result.
Kim said the country’s army will be equipped with “another major defense weapons system with laudable combat performance,” expressing gratitude to the research group in charge and relevant munitions industry enterprise for strengthening national defense capability, the KCNA said.
South Korea’s military said it had detected the launch of multiple surface-to-air missiles in real-time from the North’s western port city of Nampho the previous day, adding further analysis is under way.
The launch took place at around 9 a.m. before South Korea and the United States announced the completion of their annual springtime Freedom Shield exercise, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said.
North Korea has denounced the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and has a track record of staging weapons tests in protest, but it did not carry out major provocations this year.
(Yonhap)
