North Korea conducts submarine-launched cruise missile test

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, guides the test launch of a new strategic cruise missile from a submarine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test launch of a new strategic cruise missile from a submarine, according to state media reports on Monday.

The state-run news agency KCNA disclosed that on Sunday, two Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles soared through the sky above the East Sea, successfully striking an island target. Kim Jong Un personally guided the launch, showcasing the nation’s latest military capabilities.

The Pulhwasal-3-31, a new generation of strategic cruise missiles, had undergone its inaugural test just last Wednesday, firing multiple missiles toward the Yellow Sea. The recent submarine-launched test, as reported by KCNA, had no impact on the security of neighboring countries and was unrelated to the regional situation, the report emphasized. Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the results of the launch.

South Korea’s military reported detecting cruise missiles near the waters around North Korea’s Sinpo area on Sunday.

Pyongyang’s accelerated weapons testing in the new year has included trials of an “underwater nuclear weapon system” and a solid-fueled hypersonic ballistic missile. Notably, cruise missile tests are not prohibited under current UN sanctions against North Korea, distinguishing them from their ballistic counterparts.

Cruise missiles, propelled by jet engines, fly at lower altitudes compared to more advanced ballistic missiles, rendering them more challenging to detect and intercept.

Source: AFP