North Korea announced that it had tested a newly developed air defense system and conducted a missile exercise involving a long-range strategic cruise missile. According to the country’s Missile Administration, the missile successfully struck a simulated airport target during the exercise in the east of the country. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that Pyongyang had launched multiple missiles toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) a day earlier. The tests were described by Pyongyang as part of efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities, while analysts viewed the simulated airport attack as a show of force toward the US, Japan and South Korea.