North Korea launched several ballistic missiles Sunday morning, the latest in a series of weapons tests ahead of the country's upcoming ruling party congress.

Kim Jong Un oversaw hypersonic missile tests as North Korea ramped up weapons displays ahead of a major political conference, state media reported.

North Korea on Sunday launched what it claimed to be hypersonic missiles into the Sea of Japan in a firing drill. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who stated that nuclear deterrence is necessary due to the “recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,

North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has observed test-flights of hypersonic missiles and underscored the need to bolster the country’s nuclear war deterrent.

Relations with Beijing will also improve considerably. North Korea will seek normalisation of trade relations and economic assistance from China, while China will attempt to manage conflict escalation on the Korean Peninsula. Both China and Russia are likely to show a more tolerant attitude towards North Korea’s nuclear weapons status.

South Korean President Lee meets Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss trade and North Korean tensions amid recent missile launches.