North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has reportedly overseen the development of missiles powered by artificial intelligence that Pyongyang claims would be extremely difficult to evade.
The technology was tested early Saturday near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan. South Korea’s military said the projectile travelled more than 700 kilometres (435 miles).
Images released from the launch showed Kim smiling as he observed the test alongside his daughter, Ju Ae, and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, who appeared to applaud the demonstration.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said the artificial intelligence system allows the missile to alter its flight path while travelling at low altitude—an ability she presented as a major enhancement.
“Through today’s launching drill, the strategic missile soldiers have fully demonstrated their professional qualifications and counterattack posture,” Kim said after the test, according to an English-language report from the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He added that North Korea must continue its “responsible efforts nonstop” to ensure its adversaries recognise the reliability and potentially destructive power of the country’s strategic offensive weapons.
South Korea’s military rejected Kim Yo Jong’s claim that the AI-guided missile could not be avoided, saying the weapon tested on Saturday would have been vulnerable to interception.
“South Korea and the United States maintain a firm combined defence posture and assess that the missile recently launched by North Korea was well within the detection and interception capabilities of the defensive assets operated by the two allies,” Seoul’s defence ministry said.
Kim watches the missile launch with his daughter Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, who is pictured applauding the test.
Kim and the accompanying officials look toward a screen displaying further launch information as others continue to applaud.
A KCNA photograph captures the missile climbing into the sky amid a bright burst of orange flame.
“We urge North Korea to immediately cease actions that heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” the ministry said, adding that the launch breached United Nations Security Council resolutions.
KCNA also published the precise coordinates of the missile’s impact point, a detail analysts interpreted as evidence of Pyongyang’s confidence in the test and its reported accuracy.
“This time, the North disclosed the coordinates down to decimal points—equivalent to a precision of roughly 30 centimetres,” said Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
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“It shows Kim’s stance that there is nothing to hide and an expression of confidence,” Hong added.
Images distributed by KCNA showed the missile streaking upward through a plume of orange fire, with Ju Ae watching the launch beside her father.
South Korea’s spy agency has identified Kim Ju Ae, who first appeared publicly in 2022, as the leading potential successor to her father, pointing to her growing presence at high-profile military and state occasions.
The girl, believed to be about 13, has joined Kim at weapons tests, military parades and factory inaugurations, appearing with increasing regularity in official coverage.
North Korean state media have described her as Kim’s “most beloved” or “respected” child, while a steady stream of photographs and video has highlighted their close relationship and her rising public status.
The National Intelligence Service said earlier this month that it was investigating whether Kim has a son. However, the agency said that, if he does exist, he is not currently considered to be in line to succeed his father.
The launch was conducted to help train soldiers operating the ‘hypersonic strategic weapon system’, KCNA reported.
Seoul’s spy agency last month claimed Kim is ‘extremely obese’ and at risk of heart disease.
Speculation over Kim’s health first flared in 2020 when he missed a commemoration of his late grandfather’s birthday. He was away from the public eye for about 20 days, fuelling rumours that he was seriously ill after surgery.
Kim’s father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung were also obese and heavy smokers. Both died of heart attacks.
North Korea has struggled with repeated food shortages over the years, with the UN calling food insecurity a key humanitarian concern.
But a chef who worked with Kim’s personal chefs during a North Korea-US summit has said the leader has a taste for luxury foods.
Paul Smart – who was the executive chef at Hanoi’s Metropole hotel, where the summit was held – said in 2019: ‘He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine.’
He added the steaks the North Koreans brought for the leader weren’t dissimilar to highly coveted Japanese wagyu, and were cooked rare.