North Korea tests hypersonic missiles, says nuclear forces ready for war

Seoul (AFP) Jan 5, 2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of "cutting-edge" hypersonic missiles to ready Pyongyang’s nuclear forces for war, state media said Monday.

Pyongyang said Sunday’s test was made all the more necessary by "recent geopolitical crisis" – a clear nod to this weekend’s events in North Korea’s socialist ally Venezuela.