North Korea Kim Jong Un Oversees New Air Defense Missile Tests Amid US-South Korea Drills

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the test-firing of two new air defense missiles, which state media described as having superior combat capabilities, particularly in fast response to aerial targets like drones and cruise missiles. The tests coincided with ongoing joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises and occurred just before a planned summit in Washington, D.C., between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Despite President Lee's calls for warmer ties and military trust with Pyongyang, North Korea continues to dismiss prospects of improved relations and emphasizes strengthening its military capabilities. The missile tests highlight North Korea's use of unique and innovative technology, and the country is preparing its defense science sector for important tasks ahead of a forthcoming ruling party congress. Recent military provocations, including North Korean troops crossing the Demilitarized Zone and South Korea's warning shots, have increased tensions in the region. North Korea also condemned the joint U.S.-South Korean drills as attempts to ignite conflict, underscoring the fraught security situation on the Korean Peninsula.