North Korea’s Kim Urges More ‘Deadly And Destructive’ Military After Weapons Tests

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a more “deadly and destructive offensive posture” after overseeing a series of weapons tests, state media reported on Friday, signalling Pyongyang’s continued focus on strengthening its military capabilities.

The tests came just days after North Korea unveiled its first 5,000-ton destroyer, underscoring Kim’s efforts to modernise both the country’s conventional and nuclear forces amid stalled diplomacy with the United States and worsening ties with South Korea.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim observed tests on Thursday of a “special mission” warhead for a tactical ballistic missile, an upgraded multiple rocket launch system and extended-range ammunition for a self-propelled howitzer.

State media said the exercises were intended to assess the weapons’ performance and reflected technological advances aimed at improving North Korea’s strike capabilities. Kim said the country must strengthen what he described as a “deadly and destructive offensive posture” to ensure that “no enemy dares to confront” North Korea.

“Making the enemies feel constant uneasiness and fear is an important aspect of war deterrence,” KCNA quoted him as saying. The agency added that the newly tested warhead is designed to inflict “fatal damage” on strategic targets such as airfields, ports and power facilities.

The latest tests follow the commissioning of the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton destroyer that Kim has hailed as the country’s most advanced warship and a key milestone in expanding North Korea’s naval capabilities.

Kim has accelerated the development of advanced weapons since his denuclearisation talks with then-US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Although Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving dialogue, Pyongyang has insisted that negotiations cannot resume unless Washington drops its demand for North Korea’s denuclearisation.

Relations with South Korea have also deteriorated, with Kim branding Seoul the country’s “principal enemy” and ordering additional military infrastructure along the heavily fortified inter-Korean border. In recent years, North Korea has also strengthened its strategic partnerships with Russia, including support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, while continuing to deepen diplomatic engagement with China.