Baghdad: North Korea launched a medium-range missile targeting a location 1,000 kilometers away in the sea off its east coast in a test overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.

According to the National Iraqi News Agency, the missile was launched from eastern North Korea as part of an exercise to train the crews operating a hypersonic strategic weapon system. The test also aimed at evaluating the reliability, efficiency, and mobility of North Korea’s war deterrence forces.

The Korean Central News Agency noted that the launch occurred amidst escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. This follows a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone last month that injured several South Korean soldiers.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong Un and a senior official in the ruling Workers’ Party, revealed the missile launch, criticizing South Korea and Japan for failing to track its unique, wave-like flight path effectively. This, she pointed out, exposed shortcomings in their tracking capabilities.

The South Korean military confirmed detecting the missile launch, estimating that it traveled over 700 kilometers towards the sea off the east coast.

Kim Jong Un stated that continued efforts to enhance North Korea’s strategic offensive weapon capabilities are necessary, emphasizing the importance of developing a nuclear deterrent for national security.

The missile test followed Kim Yo-jong’s rejection of Seoul’s demand for an apology over the landmine incident. South Korea had accused North Korea of planting the mines, a charge which Kim Yo-jong dismissed as “baseless,” asserting that North Korea did not deliberately target South Korean forces.