North Korea revealed on October 3 that a ballistic missile launched earlier was part of a mid-range strategic missile training exercise. The country claimed that its unique flight pattern limited the tracking capabilities of South Korean and Japanese military authorities, showcasing its missile technology.
Kim Yo-jong, the head of the Workers' Party of Korea's Organization and Guidance Department, stated in a statement to the Korean Central News Agency that "a strategic weapons launch training was conducted in the East Sea early this morning."
She noted that "mid-range strategic missiles were used in the training," and that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, personally observed the exercise conducted by a firepower unit with a special mission.
Kim referenced the assessments by South Korean and Japanese military authorities, which estimated the missile's flight distance at over 700 kilometers and approximately 680 kilometers, respectively, asserting that there were limitations in their detection capabilities.
"We have already witnessed similar cases four times, and it has been practically verified that the superiority of our missiles' unique flight patterns is real," she said.
She added, "While we should not blindly trust the detection data released by the enemy, these figures allow us to gauge the limitations of their detection capabilities and the uniqueness of our missiles," explaining that the enemy lost track of the target after the initial launch point when a wave-like flight trajectory was applied.
Furthermore, she stated, "If we extend the trajectory during the descent phase, we obtain numbers that are relatively similar to the ranges announced by the enemy," and emphasized that the enemy's repeated claims of detection limitations due to the curvature of the Earth essentially prove the perfection of our missile capabilities.
She particularly highlighted the need to understand the missile's speed, mentioning that it possesses the ability to change its flight trajectory at low altitudes and that artificial intelligence has been integrated into the system.
"In other words, this means there is virtually no way to evade this strike," she stressed.
Kim also reported that representatives from the Missile Bureau informed the leader that with recently introduced technology, they can set at least four different flight trajectories based on objectives and targets, and the leader expressed confidence that no other country in the world would possess such capabilities for at least several years.
Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that at around 6:30 a.m. on October 3, they detected a ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area into the East Sea, noting that the missile flew over 700 kilometers, with South Korea and the U.S. conducting a detailed analysis of its specifications.
This launch occurred just three days after South Korean military authorities demanded an apology and responsible action from North Korea following an incident where three South Korean soldiers were seriously injured due to a landmine explosion in the southern area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 25th Division's military boundary line.
This statement is notable as it marks an unusual instance where North Korea disclosed the training details and objectives on the same day as the missile launch. Typically, North Korea reveals the purpose and results of missile launches the day after they occur. Additionally, it is significant that Kim, who usually delivers messages directed at South Korea and the U.S., directly announced this ballistic missile training.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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