Recent international developments require North Korea to strengthen its nuclear deterrent. This was stated by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while watching the hypersonic missile launch exercises conducted by the Korean People's Army fire strike group on January 4, KCNA news agency reports.
The commander-in-chief emphasized that the strengthening of nuclear deterrence forces is required "due to the recent geopolitical crisis and complex international events". The purpose of the exercise was to assess the combat readiness of the hypersonic weapon system and the effectiveness and mobility of North Korea's deterrence forces.
Kim Jong-un called testing and improving the characteristics of the main components of nuclear deterrence forces, as well as the practice of using such forces, "an important strategic issue."
Hypersonic missiles fired northeast from Pyongyang's Ryokpo district hit designated targets 1,000 kilometers away in the Sea of Japan, which North Korea calls the East Sea.
