North Korea Holds Armed Equipment Exhibition for Third Consecutive Year: "Is South Korean Territory Really Safe?"

Showcasing ICBMs and Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles

North Korea has showcased its weapons systems by holding the "Defense Development" armed equipment exhibition for the third consecutive year.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the "Defense Development-2025" armed equipment exhibition opened in Pyongyang on October 4, as reported on October 5. The exhibition featured the Hwasong-11ma, believed to be a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) KN-23 equipped with a hypersonic warhead, as well as supersonic cruise missiles, anti-submarine missiles, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) such as the Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19. Chairman Kim Jong Un stated, "The exhibition grounds bring together the latest achievements of major projects that have continuously modernized and advanced the structure of North Korea's military power, which is based on nuclear deterrence."

Yonhap News Agency

In his commemorative speech, Chairman Kim said, "Our adversaries must seriously consider which direction their security environment is heading. Whether South Korean territory can ever be a safe place is a judgment they must make for themselves."

Chairman Kim continued, "There are various drills being carried out to implement and master the dangerous scenarios dictated by the rapid evolution of the U.S.-South Korea nuclear alliance and the so-called nuclear operation guidelines. Recently, the United States has also taken measures to strengthen its military assets in South Korea and its surrounding areas."

He added, "We are closely monitoring the deployment of U.S. strategic strike assets and reconnaissance means on the Korean Peninsula and in nearby regions, as well as the military hostilities carried out using these assets, in connection with the potential emergence of new threats to our national security."

Furthermore, Chairman Kim stated, "We have also taken clear measures. As the augmentation of U.S. military forces in South Korea increases, our strategic focus on this region has also intensified. Accordingly, we have allocated special assets to key targets of strategic interest."

He asserted, "If the United States continues to blatantly disregard the security concerns of regional countries and persist in its dangerous military build-up, such developments will further push us to take the necessary military and technical measures to eliminate new threats and maintain the balance of power."

Since 2023, North Korea has been holding the armed equipment exhibition under the name "Defense Development." In 2021, it held the "Self-Defense-2021" defense development exhibition.