North Korea has fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to test the country’s nuclear deterrence.
The testing comes days after it showed progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine, the Associated Press reported.
The Korean Central News Agency said that the missiles launches occurred off the country’s west coast on Sunday, December 28.
Leader Kim Jong Un was at the firing and country’s official news agency said he expressed “great satisfaction” over the launches.
Kim noted testing the reliability of the country’s nuclear deterrence and demonstrating its might are “just a responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence”.
U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from launches involving its huge stockpile of ballistic missiles.
The country’s cruise missile tests are not banned, but do pose a threat to the US and South Korea. They are highly maneuverable and fly at low altitudes to avoid radar detection.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was aware of the several cruise missile launches. It added that the country maintains a readiness to repel potential provocations from its neighbour through its alliance with the United States.
Analysts say North Korea would aim to use cruise missiles to strike U.S. warships and aircraft carriers in the event of conflict.
North Korea last week test-launched new anti-air missiles off its east coast. AP reported that photographs showed a largely completed hull of a developmental nuclear-powered submarine and North Korea implied it would arm the submarine with nuclear missiles.
A nuclear-powered submarine is one of several sophisticated weapons systems that Kim has said he will to introduce to cope with what he describes as U.S.-led security threats.
Some experts say North Korea’s alignment with Russia may have helped it to receive technologies in return. The country has sent thousands of troops and military equipment to the Russia to support President Vladimir Putin‘s Ukraine conflict.
The country has focused on weapons-testing activities to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim suggested in September that he could return to talks if the U.S. drops “its delusional obsession with denuclearization” of North Korea.
Experts say Kim might think his enlarged nuclear arsenal would give him greater leverage to wrest concessions in potential talks with Trump.
The images provided by the Korean Central News Agency via AP could not be verified.
