North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of two new types of air-defense missiles, according to state media reports on Sunday. This missile test highlights North Korea's ongoing military advancements amid joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the tests, conducted on Saturday, demonstrated the missiles' effectiveness against aerial threats, including drones and cruise missiles. Kim assigned unspecified "important" tasks to defense scientists in preparation for a significant political conference anticipated early next year.

Details regarding the specific missiles tested or the location of the event were not disclosed. The report did not include any comments from Kim directed at the U.S. or South Korea.

The missile tests coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During this meeting, they pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen their trilateral partnership with the United States to address shared concerns, particularly North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Following the Tokyo summit, Lee was scheduled to travel to Washington for discussions with President Donald Trump.

North Korea has consistently rejected calls from Seoul and Washington to resume long-stalled negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Instead, Kim has focused on strengthening ties with Russia, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Reports indicate that since the invasion, Kim has sent thousands of troops and significant military supplies to support Russian efforts.

Concerns have been raised that Russia may provide technology to enhance North Korea's military capabilities, especially in areas such as air defense and radar systems. South Korea's previous conservative administration noted in November that Russia had supplied missiles and other equipment to bolster North Korea's air defenses, although specific systems were not identified.

In a recent ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim honored North Korean soldiers who participated in the conflict in Ukraine, awarding state “hero” titles to returning soldiers and placing medals beside portraits of those who died. State media described these individuals as “great men, great heroes and great patriots.”

According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea has dispatched approximately 15,000 troops to Russia since last fall, with around 600 reported casualties in combat. Additionally, Kim has agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to Russia's Kursk region, a deployment that South Korean intelligence believes could occur soon.