North Korea Launches Strategic Cruise Missiles
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Synopsis
On January 26, North Korea test-fired strategic cruise guided missiles, marking its first missile launch since President Trump took office. The missiles were reported to have accurately hit their targets, with no threats posed to neighboring nations.
Key Takeaways
- North Korea test-fired strategic cruise missiles.
- The test was conducted as part of enhancing national defense.
- Missiles traveled for over 1,500 kilometers.
- Launch had no negative impact on regional security.
- Kim Jong-un emphasized strengthening military capabilities.
Seoul, Jan 26 (NationPress) North Korea has conducted a test of its sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided missiles, according to reports from the North's state media on Sunday. This marks the first missile launch since US President Donald Trump assumed office last week.
The North's Missile Administration executed the test-fire the previous day as part of its plans to enhance national defense capabilities and boost the effectiveness of strategic control against potential adversaries, as reported by Yonhap news agency citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The missiles accurately struck their targets after following a 1,500 kilometre-long elliptical and eight-shaped flight path for approximately 7,507 to 7,511 seconds, the report stated, emphasizing that the launch posed no threat to the security of neighboring countries.
During the launch, leader Kim Jong-un remarked that 'The war deterrence means of the armed forces of the DPRK are being perfected more thoroughly,' as per KCNA. DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Kim also expressed that 'The DPRK will tirelessly strive in a responsible manner to fulfill its vital mission and duty to safeguard sustainable peace and stability through a more robust military in the future.'
South Korea's military confirmed the missile launches, reporting that multiple cruise missiles were detected being fired from an inland area in North Korea towards the Yellow Sea at around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
'Detailed specifications are currently being meticulously analyzed by intelligence agencies in South Korea and the United States,' stated the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a message sent to reporters.
Images released by the KCNA suggest that the missiles were launched using the cold launch method, commonly linked to submarine and ship-based vertical launch systems.
Rep. Yu Yong-weon from the People Power Party, a member of the parliamentary defense committee, noted that this latest test-firing seems to align with the North's efforts to enhance its tactical nuclear strike capabilities by arming new warships and submarines with such missiles.
However, the inland launch site may indicate that the missiles are still in an early development phase.
In January of the previous year, North Korea had test-fired new submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles, identified as 'Pulhwasal-3-31', during two separate instances, raising questions about whether the recent missiles could be an advanced version of last year's technology.
At that time, the North claimed that two of the Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles traveled for 7,421 and 7,445 seconds respectively before striking an island target.
