North Korea has test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles in an exercise it described as demonstrating “combat readiness” against external threats, according to state media reports released on Monday.
The drill was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and took place on Sunday over the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean peninsula. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said Kim called for the “unlimited and sustained” development of the country’s nuclear weapons forces as tensions continue to rise in the region.
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KCNA said the purpose of the launch was to assess the “counter-offensive response posture and combat capability of long-range missile sub-units.” The missiles reportedly flew for more than two hours before successfully striking their target, with state media releasing images of the launch and impact.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the missiles were fired at around 8:00 am on Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. KCNA quoted Kim as saying Pyongyang “would as ever devote all their efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force”.
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The launch follows North Korea’s last ballistic missile test in early November, which came shortly after US President Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting Kim during a regional tour. Pyongyang did not respond to the proposal, which coincided with Trump’s approval of South Korean plans to develop a nuclear-powered submarine.
Last week, North Korea unveiled what it claimed was its own nuclear submarine. Photos published by KCNA showed Kim inspecting a purported 8,700-tonne submarine at an indoor facility, accompanied by senior officials and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. Kim reportedly described Seoul’s nuclear submarine programme as “an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty”.
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North Korean media also condemned the recent docking of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Greenville in the South Korean port city of Busan. Analysts believe the latest cruise missile drill was intended as a direct response to these developments.
Yang Moo-jin, a former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the “arrow-type cruise missiles,” with an estimated range of about 2,000 kilometres, could strike targets across the Korean peninsula as well as US military bases in Japan.
What you should know
North Korea’s cruise missile test highlights Pyongyang’s continued focus on strengthening its nuclear and missile capabilities amid growing military activity in the region.
Cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, typically fly at lower altitudes and are harder to detect, making them a strategic asset. The test also reflects North Korea’s objections to South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and the presence of US nuclear submarines in the region.
Together, these developments underscore escalating security tensions involving North Korea, South Korea, and the United States.
