Kim Jong-un Calls South Korea Forcing Maritime Demarcation Lines, North Korea Tests Surface-to-Laut Missiles

Kim Jong-un (right) directly supervises North Korea's latest surface-to-sea missile test. (Source: KCNA)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly supervised a new surface-to-sea missile test on Wednesday, after his spotlight on South Korea's demarcation line, as well as visiting a large ammunition factory.

North Korea launched several cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, the South Korean military said, which was the latest test run in recent weeks before April's general election in South Korea.

Leader Kim said South Korea violated North Korea's sovereignty by imposing a "North Limit Gate" (NLL), a maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas.

The North Korean leader gave orders to strengthen military readiness in the northern waters of Yeonpyeong Island and west of the Korean peninsula, in the NLL region.

"It is not important how many lines are in the West Korean Sea, when the enemy infiltrates the maritime border we recognize, we will consider it a violation of DPRK sovereignty and an armed provocation against North Korea," said leader Kim.

The new missile tested this time was named Padasuri-6, or "Sea Eagle-6". It is claimed to fly over the sea and successfully hit the target.

In addition, Leader Kim also inspected the "big" ammunition factory and studied in detail about production modernization, state media said.

On that occasion, he stressed the factory's role in strengthening North Korea's armed forces, assigning tasks to improve ammunition quality and increase production as "needed by the current situation and the growing revolution," KCNA reported.

Kim's visit to the ammunition factory comes as the United States and its allies accuse North Korea of carrying out arms transactions with Russia.

The White House last month said Russia recently used short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) sourced from North Korea to carry out attacks on Ukraine, citing newly opened intelligence data.