Overview

• KCNA said Kim Jong Un oversaw Saturday launches of two new air-defense missiles described as improved systems.
• The agency claimed the systems showed superior combat capability against drones and cruise missiles using a unique technology.
• State media reported Kim assigned an unspecified important task to the Academy of National Defense Science ahead of a party meeting.
• The tests followed a week in which South Korea fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border, and the U.N. Command said about 30 troops crossed.
• Analysts say Pyongyang is prioritizing defenses against low‑altitude threats after lessons from Russia’s war in Ukraine, as Seoul reports thousands of North Korean troops were sent to Russia in 2024 with significant casualties.