- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of two new types of air defence missiles, state media reported on Sunday.
- The state-run KCNA claimed the missiles demonstrated "superior combat capability" and used "unique technology" to counter aerial threats like drones and cruise missiles.
- The tests coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Tokyo and his upcoming summit in Washington.
- Kim's government has consistently rejected calls from Seoul and Washington for denuclearisation talks, instead prioritising ties with nations confronting the United States, notably Russia.
- North Korea has sent thousands of troops and significant weapon shipments to support Russia's war in Ukraine, raising concerns about potential technology transfers that could bolster Pyongyang's military.
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