North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of a missile alongside his daughter, Ju Ae, with state media claiming the weapon used artificial intelligence to adjust its flight path.
The missile was reportedly capable of changing its trajectory at low altitude, a feature that Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said made it difficult for an adversary to evade an attack. The claim has not been independently verified.
South Korea’s military said the missile was launched early Saturday from an area near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan and travelled more than 700 kilometres (435 miles). Seoul did not provide further details about the weapon.
Kim said the launch demonstrated the capabilities and readiness of North Korea’s strategic missile forces.
“Through today’s launching drill, the strategic missile soldiers have fully demonstrated their professional qualifications and counterattack posture,” Kim said, according to an English-language report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He also called for continued efforts to strengthen the reliability of North Korea’s strategic offensive capabilities.
KCNA said the drill was conducted to train troops operating a “hypersonic strategic weapon system”. Images released by the state media showed a missile rising into the sky with a burst of orange flame.
Another photograph showed Kim smiling alongside his daughter Ju Ae and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. Ju Ae, who was first publicly seen with her father in 2022, has increasingly appeared at major military and state events.
South Korea’s intelligence agency has previously assessed that Ju Ae is the most likely successor to Kim, citing her growing public role. Her repeated appearances alongside senior officials and during military events have fuelled speculation about her position in the country’s leadership succession.
The latest missile launch comes amid renewed tensions between North and South Korea.
Days earlier, Seoul’s military demanded an apology from Pyongyang over an explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers. South Korea attributed the blast to North Korea, while Pyongyang has denied responsibility.
North Korea on Friday also criticised South Korea as “despicable”, further complicating efforts by Seoul’s civilian government to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang.
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