Seoul: North Korea has been at the center of international attention this week due to a series of events involving missile launches and diplomatic statements. The country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has been actively inspecting military developments, including the production of tactical guided weapons and overseeing the construction of a memorial for soldiers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the week began with North Korea firing multiple ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, prompting calls from Cheong Wa Dae for North Korea to cease such provocations. The United States acknowledged these missile launches and reaffirmed its defense commitments to its allies in the region. Additionally, North Korea strongly criticized the U.S. for its capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro.
Diplomatic interactions also featured prominently, with South Korea’s Lee and China’s Xi Jinping expressing the importance of resuming talks with North Korea. Meanwhile, North Korea accused Japan of plotting reinvasion due to its record-high defense budget. A notable development was the appearance of Kim Jong-un’s daughter in public, which officials suggest may be an attempt to project a socialist family image.
Ahead of a key party congress, North Korea highlighted its achievements in rural development while urging heightened discipline and loyalty among officials. State media in Pyongyang remained silent on Kim Jong-un’s birthday, which coincided with discussions in a party magazine about the importance of designating a successor for the leader.
Concluding the week’s events, Kim Jong-un expressed unwavering support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies and congratulated the Lao president on his reelection as party chief, highlighting North Korea’s ongoing diplomatic engagements.