Overview
- Kim Jong Un approved a five-year push to keep developing rockets and munitions and to modernize production facilities, according to KCNA.
- State media released new photos of an approximately 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine under construction as Kim toured a shipyard.
- Independent outlets noted the images suggest an unfinished hull and raised doubts about the boat’s readiness or authenticity.
- KCNA said Kim oversaw tests of “new high-flying” long-range air-defence rockets that struck decoy targets at 200 kilometers altitude, a claim that has not been independently verified.
- North Korea condemned South Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, which President Trump approved, and called a recent U.S. submarine visit to Busan escalatory.