January 5, 2026 | 11:29 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a hypersonic missile test on Sunday during a military drill that he said was necessary due to “recent geopolitical crises,” according to a statement carried by state media.
The remarks were widely seen as a veiled reference to the United States’ military attack on Venezuela over the weekend, a socialist ally of North Korea.
A report released on Monday, January 5, 2026, by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as cited by CNA, confirmed and provided further details on North Korea’s first missile launch of the year.
The report said the test involved a new, “cutting-edge” weapons system using a hypersonic missile that was first tested in October.
Kim did not attend the launch, according to earlier reports.
On Sunday, while praising the drill, Kim said that “important achievements have been recently made in putting our nuclear forces on a practical basis and preparing them for an actual war.”
“Why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,” Kim said, according to KCNA as quoted by Arab News, in what was seen as a clear reference to Washington’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.
North Korea also condemned the arrest of Maduro by the United States on Sunday, calling it a “serious encroachment of sovereignty,” state media reported.
The U.S. attack has been described as a nightmare scenario for North Korea’s leadership, which has long accused Washington of seeking to overthrow its government. Pyongyang has for decades justified its nuclear and missile programs as a deterrent against what it views as U.S.-led regime change efforts.
South Korea’s military reported that missiles were launched into the Sea of Japan on Sunday, saying it had detected “multiple projectiles, presumed to be ballistic missiles,” fired from near Pyongyang at around 07:50 AM local time.
KCNA did not specify how many missiles were launched but said they “hit targets 1,000 kilometers away” in the Sea of Japan.
The missile test came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung began a four-day visit to China. Lee is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday as part of efforts to strengthen economic ties with Seoul’s largest trading partner.
The South Korean leader is also expected to seek China’s support in easing tensions with Pyongyang, leveraging Beijing’s influence over North Korea to help improve inter-Korean relations.
Read: Maduro and Wife to Face US Court After Military Kidnapping
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