--- title: "DPRK tests new air defense system and launches missiles toward East Sea" description: "On November 4, the DPRK tested a new air defense system and launched several missiles toward the East Sea. According to Seoul, the projectiles traveled less than 300 km." date: 2026-11-05T02:48:24.143Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/dprk-tests-new-air-defense-system tags: [north-korea, missile-test, air-defense, dprk, east-sea] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # DPRK tests new air defense system and launches missiles toward East Sea ![Kim Jong Un in a black suit sits at a table discussing military tests](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/05/knrd-ispytala-novuyu-sistemu-pvo-i-zapustila-rakety/knrd-ispytala-novuyu-sistemu-pvo-i-zapustila-rakety-1.webp) ## Key Points - DPRK tested a new air defense system on November 4 under the supervision of Kim Jong Sik - On the same day, cruise missile units practiced striking a simulated airfield - According to Seoul, missiles were launched from the Sondok area and traveled less than 300 km - The launch marks the fourth weapons test by the DPRK in the last month On November 4, North Korea conducted tests of a new air defense system and launched several missiles toward the East Sea. This was reported by North Korean state media, and the missile launches were confirmed by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. ### Air defense system tests overseen by Kim Jong Sik According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the tests of the new air defense system took place on Wednesday, November 4. They were carried out by the DPRK Missile General Bureau under the direct supervision of Kim Jong Sik, a member of the Central Military Commission. Pyongyang stated that the tests confirmed the technical specifications and reliability of the missile's new components and practiced the intelligent multi-guidance mode of the warhead. Furthermore, the capabilities of the air defense system in detecting, identifying, and tracking targets were tested, as well as the functioning of the data processing device. North Korean military officials emphasized that all claimed weapon parameters met the established requirements. ### Cruise missile drills in the eastern part of the country On the same day, a strategic long-range cruise missile unit stationed in the eastern part of the DPRK held separate live-fire drills. Military personnel practiced striking a simulated target, an airfield. Thus, both the air defense system and offensive missile weaponry were engaged within a single day. ### Seoul’s assessment: launch from Sondok area South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that early on the morning of November 4, North Korea fired several missiles from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea. According to Seoul's preliminary estimates, the missiles traveled a distance of less than 300 kilometers. The South Korean military did not rule out that the launched projectiles could have included a short-range ballistic missile. ### Fourth test in a month The new tests come amid a noticeable intensification of Pyongyang's missile program. According to Reuters, the current launch marks the fourth North Korean weapons test in the last month. Previously, the DPRK also announced tests of a strategic cruise missile with a cluster warhead. The increasing frequency of missile launches is linked to the strengthening of the regime's defense policy and the demonstration of the armed forces' technical capabilities. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Северная Корея испытала новую систему ПВО и запустила ракеты к Восточному морю](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivnichna-koreya-viprobuvala-novu-sistemu-1793846592.html) - Primary source: details on air defense tests, cruise missile drills, JCS data on Sondok launch, distance under 300 km, fourth test in a month per Reuters. - [Северная Корея испытала новую систему ПВО и запустила ракеты в сторону Восточного моря](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/11/05/8061322/) - Confirms JCS report on missile launches from the Sondok area early Wednesday morning. - [КНДР испытала новую систему ПВО и провела ракетные учения с имитацией удара по аэропорту](https://nv.ua/world/countries/severnaya-koreya-ispytala-novuyu-sistemu-pvo-i-provela-raketnye-ucheniya-50656418.html) - Confirms air defense tests and cruise missile strike drills. - [Северная Корея испытала новейшую систему вооружения](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72446926/) - Confirms the test of a new weapon system by the DPRK's Missile General Bureau. ## FAQ ### When did the new air defense system tests take place in the DPRK? According to North Korean media, the tests occurred on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. ### Who oversaw the air defense system tests? The tests were conducted by the DPRK Missile General Bureau under the supervision of Central Military Commission member Kim Jong Sik. ### What did Pyongyang claim was verified during the tests? The technical specifications and reliability of the new missile components, the operation of the intelligent multi-guidance warhead mode, and the system's ability to detect, identify, and track targets were verified. ### What did the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff report? The JCS reported that early on November 4, the DPRK fired several missiles from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea. Preliminary estimates suggest the missiles traveled less than 300 km; the possibility of a short-range ballistic missile launch was not ruled out. ### How many weapons tests has the DPRK conducted in the last month? According to Reuters, the November 4 launch was the fourth North Korean weapons test in the last month.