World

North Korea fires ballistic missiles on last day of year

North Korean leader in a meeting on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

North Korea’s state media KCNA on Saturday aired footage of a key party meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong Un on the previous day to decide policies and strategies for 2023.

The report came after the South Korean military said the reclusive state had fired three ballistic missiles toward the sea east of the Korean Peninsula earlier on Saturday.

The launches were the latest in an unprecedented number of missile tests conducted by North Korea this year, as Pyongyang presses on with its weapons development amid speculation that it could test a nuclear weapon for the seventh time.

Pyongyang is expected to announce the policies and strategies decided during the key meeting by the ruling Workers’ Party in Kim’s possible New Year speech on January 1, 2023.