• North Korea successfully test-fires long-range strategic cruise missiles under Kim Jong Un's supervision.
• Kim emphasizes the importance of nuclear combat force development, labeling it a "responsible exercise."
• The missile launches come ahead of a significant Workers' Party congress set for early 2026.
• The tests are interpreted as preparations against perceived security threats from the US and South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the successful test launch of two strategic long-range cruise missiles on December 28, 2025, aimed at demonstrating the country's nuclear combat readiness amid increasing military pressures from the United States and South Korea. The missile tests occurred over the Yellow Sea, where they flew for more than two hours before hitting their targets, as reported by state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and confirmed by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The South Korean military detected the launches from the capital's Sunan area and remains ready for potential provocations, according to Channel News Asia and Los Angeles Times.

Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the exercise and highlighted that "checking the reliability and rapid response of the components" of North Korea’s nuclear deterrent is part of a responsible approach to current security threats. He asserted that this development is an exercise of the country's right to self-defense, according to South China Morning Post, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

The recent missile launch coincides with North Korea's progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine, which is anticipated to be armed with nuclear missiles. During the same time span, Kim engaged in various high-profile events, including overseeing weapons tests and construction inspections, as part of preparations for a significant Workers' Party congress in early 2026. This congress will evaluate North Korea’s strategic directions, particularly in light of its stalled negotiations with the US, as noted by India Times, Channel News Asia, and Los Angeles Times.