Kim Supervises Training Of Nuclear Troops After N. Korean SRBM Test

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un said he has "nothing to talk about with the enemy" and does "not feel the need to do so," the Korean Central News Agency reported, citing comments made by the dictator as he oversaw a military drill involving troops from the nation's tactical nuclear unit.

• Kim's comments come after North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) towards the East Sea on Sunday, the day after South Korean and U.S. troops wrapped up joint exercises involving a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. South Korean experts described the projectiles as "super-large calibre" missiles.
• North Korea's stepped-up missile tests has inspired a rapprochement between South Korea and Japan, despite their unresolved historical disputes. Over the weekend, South Korea's presidential office said President Yoon is determined to revitalise bilateral economic ties, on top of the rapidly tightened military cooperation.
• Note that today is the Party Foundation Day in North Korea, an annual public holiday to mark the anniversary of the country's ruling party. Such holidays typically involve military parades, where the army displays newly developed weapons, while the completion of major projects is often timed to coincide with such anniversaries.
• The state holiday in North Korea raises the risk of an impactful event taking place in North Korea, as it is trying to build credible nuclear deterrence capabilities. Its military is believed to have made all necessary preparations for a fully-fledged nuclear test. Kim Jong-un's activity at the official celebrations will also be watched amid lingering uncertainty surrounding his health.