North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Claims Ballistic Missile Test Demonstrates Nuclear Strength
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un once again invited his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to witness a test of a dual-rocket launcher system. The test served as a response to joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.
According to Associated Press reporting on Sunday, 15 March 2026, North Korea’s state media outlet KCNA reported that the US-South Korean military exercises were regarded as invasion drills against North Korea.
KCNA also reported that Kim directly observed a strike exercise involving twelve ultra-precision 600mm rocket launchers off the east coast of North Korea on Saturday, 14 March. South Korean military detected approximately ten ballistic missiles launched from the North Korean capital region towards the eastern sea.
South Korea’s National Security Council described the launches as provocations violating UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting any ballistic activities by North Korea. KCNA reported that Kim stated the exercises would make enemies within their 420-kilometre strike range feel “uncomfortable” and give them a “profound understanding of the destructive power of tactical nuclear weapons”.
The statement appears to refer to South Korea and US forces stationed there. KCNA photographs showed Kim and Kim Ju Ae, approximately 13 years old, walking near large green launcher trucks and observing weapons being fired from the vehicles.
The girl has accompanied her father at various significant events, including missile tests and military parades, since late 2022. This has triggered speculation that she is being groomed as Kim’s successor.
Experts note that North Korea’s large rocket launchers blur the line between artillery systems and ballistic missiles, as they can generate their own thrust and are guided during launch. North Korea claims some of these systems are capable of delivering nuclear warheads.
The US-South Korean Freedom Shield exercise in spring is a computer-simulated command post drill. The exercise runs until 19 March.
North Korea frequently responds to such exercises with weapons tests and inflammatory rhetoric.