(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim oversees hypersonic missile launch, calls for bolstering war deterrent

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SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile and called for continued efforts to bolster the "fatality" of the country's offensive weapons, state media reported Sunday.

North Korea conducted a firing drill of the missile toward the East Sea at dawn on Saturday as part of efforts to train missile troops operating the "hypersonic strategic weapon system," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 4, 2026, shows the North firing an intermediate-range strategic missile the previous day, overseen by its leader Kim Jong-un. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Kim said it is very important to demonstrate the counterattack means of the North's military in a "constant mobilization posture," according to the report.

"We must continue our responsible efforts nonstop to constantly and repeatedly make the enemy recognize the reliability and fatality of our strategic offensive means," the North's leader was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

"This is a form of exercising deterrent," he said, noting that such a missile launch is aimed at "more rapidly developing the country's nuclear war deterrent."

Photos published by state media showed Kim overseeing the launch with his daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

The KCNA said the missile, launched toward the northeast, hit a target 1,000 kilometers away from the East Sea.

The South Korean military earlier said it detected North Korea firing a ballistic missile toward the East Sea early Saturday morning from the Wonsan area and it flew over 700km.

Less than 12 hours after the launch, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, disclosed the firing late Saturday. She claimed military authorities of South Korea and Japan failed in tracking the trajectory of the missile due to the limitation of their tracking capabilities.

Experts raised the possibility of North Korea firing the Hwasong-16 Na hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, citing North Korea's media report that the launched missile was capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude.

The missile launch came amid heightened tensions over last month's land mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers.

The South Korean military blamed North Korea for the Sept. 21 mine blast and called it a "blatant" violation of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Seoul demanded an apology and responsible measures from Pyongyang.

North Korea has denied responsibility for the incident, accusing Seoul of fabricating the findings and warning of "merciless" retaliation if the South takes any corresponding actions.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) Cheong Wa Dae holds emergency security meeting on N. Korea's missile launch

(LEAD) N.K. leader's sister says intermediate-range strategic missile was launched during firing drill

(2nd LD) N. Korea fires ballistic missile amid tensions over DMZ mine blast

(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim oversees hypersonic missile launch, calls for bolstering war deterrent

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首尔，10月4日（韩联社）——据朝鲜官方媒体周日报道，朝鲜领导人金正恩视察了一枚中程战略导弹的发射，并呼吁继续努力增强该国进攻性武器的“杀伤力”。

据朝鲜中央通讯社（朝中社）报道，朝鲜于周六黎明时分向东海方向进行了导弹发射演习，这是训练操作“高超音速战略武器系统”的导弹部队工作的一部分。

这张照片由朝鲜官方通讯社朝中社于2026年10月4日发布，显示朝鲜在前一天发射了一枚中程战略导弹，其领导人金正恩在场监督。（仅限韩国境内使用，禁止转载）（韩联社）

据报道，金正恩表示，在“持续动员态势”下，展示朝鲜军队的反击手段非常重要。

据朝中社报道，朝鲜领导人表示：“我们必须继续不间断地做出负责任的努力，不断反复地让敌人认识到我方战略进攻手段的可靠性和致命性。”

“这是一种行使威慑力的方式，”他说道，并指出这种导弹发射旨在“更快地发展该国的核战争威慑力”。

官方媒体发布的照片​​显示，金正恩与女儿金珠爱和妻子李雪主一起视察了发射仪式。

朝中社称，这枚向东北方向发射的导弹击中了距离东海1000公里外的目标。

韩国军方早些时候表示，周六清晨，他们探测到朝鲜从元山地区向东海发射了一枚弹道导弹，该导弹飞行了超过700公里。

导弹发射不到12小时后，朝鲜领导人金正恩的胞妹、实力强大的金与正于周六晚间披露了此次发射事件。她声称，由于韩国和日本军方追踪能力有限，未能追踪到导弹的飞行轨迹。

专家们提出了朝鲜试射“火星-16 Na”高超音速中程弹道导弹的可能性，并援引朝鲜媒体报道称，该导弹能够在低空改变飞行轨道。

此次导弹发射正值上个月非军事区（DMZ）内发生地雷爆炸，造成三名韩国士兵受伤，导致紧张局势加剧之际。

韩国军方指责朝鲜应对9月21日的地雷爆炸事件负责，并称其“公然”违反了结束1950-53年朝鲜战争的停战协定。首尔方面要求平壤道歉并采取负责任的措施。

朝鲜否认对该事件负责，指责首尔捏造调查结果，并警告称，如果韩国采取任何相应行动，朝鲜将进行“无情”报复。

sooyeon@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）青瓦台就朝鲜导弹发射召开紧急安全会议

（头条）朝鲜领导人妹妹称，演习期间发射了一枚中程战略导弹

（第二条）朝鲜在非军事区地雷爆炸引发的紧张局势中发射弹道导弹

（导语）朝鲜领导人金正恩监督高超音速导弹发射，呼吁加强战争威慑