Overview
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday, with the type and flight details under analysis.
- In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that Pyongyang can conduct a seventh underground nuclear test using Punggye‑ri’s No. 3 tunnel on short notice if Kim Jong-un orders it.
- The agency reported expanded fissile‑material production and multiple production lines for different nuclear warheads, with intercontinental missiles assessed to exceed 13,000 kilometers in range.
- North Korea is working on underwater launch platforms and constructing nuclear submarines, alongside deploying improved R‑class submarines to strengthen nuclear retaliation capabilities.
- Intelligence indicated preparations for higher‑resolution reconnaissance satellites with Russian technical assistance, and about 300 short‑range ballistic missiles supplied to Russia since October 2023.