Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

This picture taken on April 19, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 20, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (R) inspecting the test-fire of a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea. North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, the government news agency reported on April 20, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) / South Korea OUT / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. /

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776651873678AFP__20260420__A8CL49G__v2__HighRes__TopshotNkoreaMilitaryMissileWeaponry.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This picture taken on April 19, 2026 and released by North Korea&#x27;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 20, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (R) inspecting the test-fire of a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea. <em>Photo by KCNA via KNS/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, the government news agency reported Monday, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/24/north-korea-s-kim-vows-irreversible-nuclear-status-warns-seoul-of-merciless-response-0742">North Korea&#x27;s Kim vows &#x27;irreversible&#x27; nuclear status, warns Seoul of &#x27;merciless&#x27; response</a></div><p>The Sunday launches, which were supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, follow other tests in recent weeks of weaponry including ballistic missiles, anti-warship cruise missiles and cluster munitions.</p><p>&quot;Five tactical ballistic missiles, launched towards the target area around an island about 136 km away, struck the area of 12.5-13 hectares with the very high density, fully displaying their combat might,&quot; the Korean Central News Agency reported.</p><p>The test was meant &quot;to evaluate the power of warhead of the improved surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11 Ra,&quot; it added.</p><p>Kim &quot;expressed great satisfaction over the test results,&quot; according to KCNA, and noted that &quot;the development and introduction of different cluster bomb warheads can...boost the high-density striking capability to quell a specific target area as well as the high-precision striking capability.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;FIRM&#x27; DEFENSE POSTURE IN SEOUL </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Seoul had earlier reported the test.</p><p>&quot;Our military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 6:10 am (2110 GMT),&quot; South Korea&#x27;s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/15/north-korea-showing-serious-increase-in-ability-to-make-nuclear-weapons-iaea-chief-1516">North Korea showing &#x27;serious increase&#x27; in ability to make nuclear weapons: IAEA chief</a></div><p>&quot;The missiles flew approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles), and South Korean and US intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications,&quot; it added.</p><p>Seoul was maintaining a &quot;firm combined defense posture&quot; with its security ally the United States -- which stations about 28,000 troops in the South to help it defend against military threats from the North -- and will &quot;respond overwhelmingly to any provocation&quot;, it said.</p><p>South Korea&#x27;s presidential office said it held an emergency security meeting over the launches.</p><p>Analysts said the tests signaled Pyongyang&#x27;s latest rejection of attempts by Seoul to repair strained ties.</p><p>Among them was an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, a gesture initially described as &quot;very fortunate and wise behavior&quot; by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/1/2/north-korean-leader-s-daughter-fuels-succession-speculation-with-mausoleum-visit-1325">North Korean leader&#x27;s daughter fuels succession speculation with mausoleum visit</a></div><p>But this month, a senior North Korean official described the South as &quot;the enemy state most hostile&quot; to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by leader Kim Jong Un.</p><p>North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology, restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.</p><p>&quot;Pyongyang must immediately halt its successive missile provocations that are heightening tensions,&quot; Seoul&#x27;s defense ministry said in a statement Sunday.</p><p>The North should &quot;actively engage in the South Korean government&#x27;s efforts to establish peace&quot;, it added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TWO MORE DESTROYERS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Earlier in April, Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of strategic cruise missiles launched from a naval warship, with official photos showing him watching the firings flanked by military officials.</p><p>Those tests were carried out from the Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in the North&#x27;s arsenal, both launched last year as Kim seeks to ramp up the country&#x27;s naval capabilities.</p><p>The North is also building two more 5,000-ton class destroyers to add to its fleet.</p><p>A South Korean lawmaker said this month that North Korea appeared to be speeding up construction of a destroyer at the western port city of Nampo.</p><p>Citing satellite imagery from a US-based intelligence firm, Yoo Yong-won of the opposition People Power Party said North Korea was &quot;accelerating the naval forces&#x27; modernization on the back of military assistance from Russia&quot;.</p><p>North Korea has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia&#x27;s invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TdfhwPd4j7M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kqEQNgQPsw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQw7P0qLV-s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UVUvAQ9wS_M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, the government news agency reported Monday, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.</p>

North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, the government news agency reported Monday, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

North Korea conducts ballistic missile tests: KCNA

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North Korea conducts ballistic missile tests: KCNA

Kang Jin-kyu,

Agence France-Presse

Published April 20, 2026 10:31 AM PHT

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Agence France-Presse

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