North Korea on Monday said it launched long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea as part of efforts to verify the effectiveness of its nuclear deterrent, days after revealing apparent progress in building its first nuclear-powered submarine.
The missile launches on Sunday marked Pyongyang’s latest show of military strength ahead of an upcoming congress of the ruling Workers’ Party scheduled for early next year. The rare party meeting, the first in five years, is expected to draw close international scrutiny over whether leader Kim Jong Un will set new directions for relations with the United States and respond to Washington’s calls to revive stalled nuclear talks.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim observed the launches off the country’s west coast and expressed strong satisfaction with the results. He was quoted as saying that verifying the reliability of North Korea’s nuclear deterrence and demonstrating its power were legitimate acts of self-defense and deterrence against external threats.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that it had detected multiple cruise missile launches from the Pyongyang area on Sunday morning, adding that Seoul remains fully prepared to counter any potential provocations through its alliance with the United States.
While UN Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles, cruise missile launches are not prohibited. However, analysts warn they still pose a serious threat to South Korea and the United States because such missiles can fly at low altitudes and maneuver to evade radar systems. In a conflict, they could be used to target US naval vessels, including aircraft carriers.
In recent days, North Korea also test-fired new anti-aircraft missiles and released images suggesting that the hull of a nuclear-powered submarine under development is nearing completion.
North Korea shows progress in nuclear-powered submarine
The country has hinted that the submarine would be capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
A nuclear-powered submarine is among several advanced weapons systems Kim has pledged to develop, citing what he calls US-led security threats. Some analysts believe North Korea’s closer military cooperation with Russia, including support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, may have helped it gain access to key technologies.
Pyongyang has continued weapons testing since nuclear negotiations with former US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. However, Kim signaled in September that talks could resume if Washington abandons its push for denuclearization, with experts suggesting he may view his expanded nuclear arsenal as leverage in any future negotiations.
Source: AP