North Koreas leader outlines plans for nuclear arsenal expansion

North Korea to Unveil Five-Year Development Plan at Upcoming Congress

Pyongyang is expected to release a five-year development plan for defense and economy at an upcoming governing party meeting, according to state media. The report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) was released on Wednesday.

The plan is set to be unveiled during the ninth Communist Party congress, which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. The event will mark the first such gathering since 2021.

During a recent test-firing of a large-calibre multiple rocket launcher system, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the exercise as “of great significance” and stated that it showed the weapon system’s effectiveness. The missiles were fired towards the Sea of Japan, with two landing outside North Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The results of the test were reported to have been successful, with the missiles hitting a target in waters approximately 358.5km away. Kim Jong Un also mentioned a “self-steered precision guided flight system” that may indicate a new navigation system employed by the weapon.

The upcoming congress is expected to provide further details on North Korea’s development plans for defense and economy. The event will be attended by high-ranking officials, including Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae.

Source: Al Jazeera