North Korea says it has test-fired cruise missiles designed for submarine launches as it continues to expand its military capabilities amid a prolonged freeze in diplomatic relations with the United States and South Korea.
North Korean state media reported Thursday that the military tested two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles in waters off the country's east coast on Wednesday. The report described the weapons as strategic, suggesting they could be equipped with nuclear warheads, but did not specify whether they were launched from an actual submarine or an underwater test platform.
The tests were aimed at assessing the readiness of the country's underwater combat systems, strengthening the Navy's ability to carry out strategic missions and demonstrating the reliability of its nuclear deterrent, state media said.
South Korea's military did not immediately comment on the tests.
The launches followed a recent series of weapons demonstrations, including tests of various hypersonic missile systems on Sept 20 and Oct 3. North Korea said those tests were intended to advance weapons designed to overwhelm missile defence systems in South Korea and Japan.
North Korea has been developing various ballistic and cruise missiles designed for underwater launches for years. In recent months, it has also claimed progress in building a nuclear-powered submarine that it plans to equip with nuclear-capable weapons, as leader Kim Jong Un focuses on strengthening the Navy after a decade of expanding the country's ballistic missile programme.
The potential acquisition of a submarine capable of operating stealthily for extended periods and launching missiles from underwater would raise concerns among neighbouring countries, as such launches would be difficult to detect in advance.
However, questions remain over whether North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and impoverished country, has the resources and technology needed to develop such systems.
In recent weeks, North Korea has also conducted live-fire drills and commissioned a new warship as Kim continues to showcase the country's nuclear weapons programme while rejecting US and South Korean offers to resume long-stalled diplomatic talks.
Kim has halted all diplomacy and cooperation with South Korea in recent years, describing it as a permanent enemy amid a prolonged deadlock in broader nuclear negotiations with Washington.
He has also rejected US President Donald Trump's calls to revive diplomatic engagement, which broke down in 2019.
Pyongyang has called on Washington to abandon its “hostile” policy towards North Korea and drop demands for the country's denuclearisation as a precondition for talks.