North Korea conducted test firings on the 23rd to verify the combat capabilities of two types of newly improved surface-to-air (anti-aircraft) missiles.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 24th that the Missile Bureau conducted fire on various targets to "test the combat performance of the two types of improved new anti-aircraft missiles."
This test firing was attended by Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, who stressed the important tasks that the defense science research sector must pursue ahead of the party congress. Kim Yo Jong, a party secretary, Kim Jong Sik, the first deputy director of the party's central committee, General Kim Kwang Hyok, the air force commander, and Kim Yong Hwan, the director of the National Defense Science Institute, also attended.
The specific locations of the test launch and the names of the tested weapons systems were not mentioned in the report.
The communication stated that through the firing, the new anti-aircraft weapons systems have been evaluated as superior in combat responsiveness to various aerial targets, including unmanned attack aircraft and cruise missiles, and that their operation and response methods are based on unique and special technologies.
It also claimed that the technical characteristics of the two types of improved projectiles were recognized as highly suitable for destroying various aerial targets.
The agency revealed several photos of the missiles successfully hitting aerial targets but did not disclose details about the missile launchers.
North Korea's air defense network is vulnerable to prevent enemy preemptive strikes.
Despite possessing a large number of nuclear weapons, North Korea is focusing on establishing air defense networks that are essential for modern warfare, including countering drone infiltrations, and there are observations that it is receiving relevant technical support from Russia in exchange for dispatching troops to the Ukraine war.
North Korea also tested the new surface-to-air missile 'Byeolji-1-2' during the U.S.-South Korea aerial training period in April last year. In March of this year, it claimed to have successfully conducted a test launch of the latest surface-to-air missiles that recently began mass production.
This missile test firing coincided with the departure date of President Lee Jae-myung's visit to Japan and the United States, and it appears to serve as a countermeasure against the ongoing joint U.S.-South Korea 'Eulji Freedom Shield' (UFS) exercise this month.
Our military did not mention North Korea's missile test firing the previous day.