North Korea said Monday that leader Kim Jong Un observed test-flights of hypersonic missiles and underscored the need to bolster the country’s nuclear war deterrent, as the country dials up weapons displays ahead of its major political conference.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cited the need for Pyongyang to maintain a powerful nuclear deterrent in its first ballistic missile test of the year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw hypersonic missile firing drills, state media reported Monday, citing a "grave geopolitical crisis" following U.S. military action in Venezuela.

North Korea said Monday that leader Kim Jong Un observed test flights of hypersonic missiles and underscored the need to bolster the country’s nuclear war deterrent, as the country dials up weapons displays ahead of its major political conference.

Ju Ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media in recent years, fueling speculation that she is being prepared as Kim’s successor.

Relations with Beijing will also improve considerably. North Korea will seek normalisation of trade relations and economic assistance from China, while China will attempt to manage conflict escalation on the Korean Peninsula. Both China and Russia are likely to show a more tolerant attitude towards North Korea’s nuclear weapons status.

South Korea’s military reports projectile launch hours before Lee Jae Myung was due to head to Beijing

Chinese President Xi and his wife sent New Year's greetings to N. Korean leader Kim Jong Un but N. Korean state media did not publish Xi's message