A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People's Army conducted a missile launching drill on January 4.

The drill was conducted as part of the operational evaluation of the sustainability, effectiveness and operation of the DPRK's war deterrent while evaluating the readiness of the hypersonic weapon system, verifying and confirming its capability for fulfilling mission and developing the missile soldiers' firing capability.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, oversaw the launching drill.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said that it is a very important strategic task to maintain and expand a powerful and reliable nuclear deterrent through the sustained verification of key components of war deterrence and the improvement of its performance and the mastering of operational capabilities.

He said, appreciating the drill:

"Through today's launching drill, we can confirm that a very important technology task for national defence has been carried out.

"The missile soldiers showed the readiness of the DPRK's nuclear forces without regret and gave confidence in it.

"Important achievements have been recently made in putting our nuclear forces on a practical basis and preparing them for an actual war. This potential is an outcome of the Party's line on building up the national defences and its policy on attaching importance to defence science and technology and a valuable result of our outstanding scientific and technological group.