North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the launch of two new air defence missiles, state media reported, describing the weapons as having “superior combat capability” and “unique technology.”

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Saturday’s test demonstrated that the projectiles were effective against multiple aerial threats, including drones and cruise missiles. No further technical details were released.

Tensions on the Border

The launch came just hours after South Korea confirmed it had fired warning shots at around 30 North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) earlier in the week. Pyongyang later accused Seoul of a “deliberate provocation.”

Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States are conducting large-scale joint military drills, which Kim has previously condemned as “hostile and confrontational.”

Diplomatic Strains

US President Donald Trump is expected to meet newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington on Monday. Lee campaigned on improving inter-Korean ties, but Kim’s sister has already rejected Seoul’s overtures.

Earlier this month, Kim vowed to accelerate the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, framing it as a counter to growing pressure from the US and South Korea.

Possible Russian Links

The test also comes amid concerns that North Korea may be receiving Russian missile technology in exchange for supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Senior South Korean officials have previously alleged that Russia provided equipment to bolster Pyongyang’s air defence network. Whether the latest missiles involved Russian assistance remains unclear.

Long-Standing Divide

North and South Korea remain technically at war, as the 1953 Korean War armistice ended active fighting without a peace treaty. The heavily fortified border has witnessed repeated clashes, though large-scale hostilities have not resumed in decades.

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