The report Tuesday by the official Korean Central News Agency came a day after South Korea said the North fired two projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles from near Wonsan toward the Sea of Japan on Monday afternoon. Kim "expressed great satisfaction with the fact that the artillerymen are prepared to react rapidly  to any circumstances and perfectly carry out their  combat duties," according to the report. Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono also told reporters on Tuesday that the projectiles were believed to be short-range ballistic missiles.

The projectiles, the first North Korea has fired since November, flew about 240 kilometers after reaching an altitude of about 35 km, according to the South Korean military. This came as the North's negotiations with the United States on denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions  remain stalled.