North Korea conducted a test by launching long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to assess its nuclear deterrence capabilities. The official Koreon Central News Agency stated that the missile launches took place off the country’s western coast on December 29.
The firing was overseen by Kim Jong Un and occurred shortly after the country reported advancements in constructing its inaugural nuclear-powered submarine.
According to reports, the leader expressed great satisfaction with the launches, emphasizing that testing these weapons is a responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence against external security threats.
South Korea affirmed its readiness to counter any potential provocations from North Korea, citing their alliance with the United States. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed awareness of several cruise missile launches from North Korea’s capital region on Sunday morning.
North Korea is bound by U.N Security Council resolutions that prohibit the launch of its extensive arsenal of ballistic missiles. While cruise missile tests are not explicitly banned, they still pose a threat to the U.S. and South Korea due to their agility and ability to fly at low altitudes to avoid radar detection.
Analysts suggest that North Korea may intend to deploy cruise missiles to target U.S. warships and aircraft carriers in the event of a conflict. This recent test follows North Korea’s trial last week of launching new anti-air missiles off its eastern coast, showcasing images of a nearly finished hull of a developmental nuclear-powered submarine.
North Korea hinted at arming the submarine with nuclear missiles, adding this to its repertoire of advanced weapon systems aimed at countering security threats from the U.S.
There are speculations that North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia might have facilitated the acquisition of crucial technologies, potentially leading to more weapon demonstrations ahead of the scheduled Workers’ Party congress early next year.
Since the breakdown of Kim’s nuclear negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, North Korea has focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal through weapons testing. Kim expressed willingness to resume talks with Trump in September on the condition that the U.S. abandon its insistence on denuclearizing North Korea.