North Korea announced on August 23 that it conducted a test firing of a new anti-aircraft (surface-to-air) missile system under the watchful eye of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party. Military authorities confirmed they are aware of this event and are currently analyzing the details.
On August 24, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that it has tracked and monitored North Korea’s training and weapons development activities in the Nampo area on the morning of August 23. The JCS added that specific technical details are under joint analysis by U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the Missile General Bureau of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted firing drills on August 23 to verify the combat performance of two upgraded types of new anti-aircraft missiles. Key officials were present at the site, including Kim; secretaries of the Party Central Committee; Kim Jong-sik (First Vice Director of the Party Central Committee); Air Force Commander General Kim Kwang-hyok; and Kim Yong-hwan (Director of the National Defense Science Institute).
The news agency emphasized that the new anti-aircraft missile system demonstrated superior combat responsiveness against various aerial targets, including unmanned attack aircraft and cruise missiles. It noted that the system’s operational and responsive methods are based on innovative and specialized technologies, highlighting improvements in technical performance during this test.
This missile test by North Korea took place during the ongoing U.S.-South Korea joint exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS). It also coincided with the start of President Lee Jae-myung’s visits to Japan and the U.S.