According to an expert, the most recent launch seems to be ‘testing weapons for export to Russia for use in Ukraine’.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has supervised the test launch of the country’s latest anti-aircraft missile system, as announced by state media, while Russia’s security chief was visiting Pyongyang for discussions.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the recent test confirmed the new weaponry is “highly reliable”, and highlighted that the nation’s combat capabilities are now more “advantageous”.

This statement came just after South Korea and the US concluded their annual joint military exercises, which Pyongyang criticized on Friday as “a rehearsal of an aggressive war”.

KCNA noted that North Korea’s Missile Administration conducted Thursday’s test to assess the performance of a system already under production.

While it did not disclose where the test took place, KCNA stated that Kim, accompanied by members of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, was present.

Kim remarked, as quoted by the agency, that the test showed the military would soon be equipped with another major defense weapon system boasting commendable combat performance.

KCNA photos showed a missile pluming into the sky and an aerial explosion, along with images of Kim observing the test and smiling afterwards.

South Korea’s military was informed ahead of time of a potential missile launch, which actually occurred around 9 AM on Thursday, as per Yonhap News Agency, citing an official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Experts suggest that Pyongyang could be receiving Russian assistance for its anti-aircraft missile system, particularly given the growing security collaborations between the two nations.

Shin Seung-ki, who leads research on North Korea’s military at the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told Reuters that due to the “strengthening of cooperation” with Russia, it’s “highly likely” that Moscow provided North Korea with the technology it requested to develop the new armaments.

Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher and the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, stated to AFP that the latest launch could indicate “testing weapons for export to Russia to be used in Ukraine”.

Visits by Russian officials

On Friday, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang for meetings with Kim and other North Korean officials, as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko also visited Pyongyang, where he met with North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

Last year, South Korea’s national security adviser revealed that Russia provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defense equipment in exchange for sending troops to aid Moscow in its conflict with Ukraine.

Analysts indicate that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia to support the fighting in Ukraine.

Seoul’s intelligence agency reported last month that North Korea has dispatched additional troops to the front line in Russia’s Kursk border region.