North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises a long-range cruise missile launch drill over the Yellow Sea, according to state media.
North Korea has test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles, describing the exercise as a demonstration of “combat readiness” amid rising regional tensions.
State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday that the missile drill was conducted on Sunday over the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean Peninsula, under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un.
According to KCNA, the exercise was aimed at assessing the counter-offensive posture and combat capability of long-range missile units. The missiles reportedly flew for more than two hours before striking their targets.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the missiles were launched at about 8:00 a.m. on Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.
During the drill, Kim Jong Un reiterated North Korea’s commitment to what he described as the “unlimited and sustained” development of the country’s nuclear combat forces, framing the missile tests as a response to perceived external threats.
The test comes amid heightened military activity in the region. North Korea last carried out a ballistic missile test in early November, shortly after US President Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting Kim during a regional tour. Pyongyang did not respond to the proposal.
At the time, Washington approved South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine, a move Pyongyang has since criticised as a threat to its security. Last week, North Korea unveiled what it said was its own nuclear-powered submarine, with KCNA releasing images of Kim inspecting the vessel alongside senior officials and his daughter.
READ ALSO
- Israel Charges 12 Smugglers of Goods in Wartime
- WHO Says 40% of Global Cancer Cases Are Preventable
- Expired Materials Found at Pad Producing Factory in Senegal
- Iran Now Grants Motorcycle Riding Licence to Their Women
North Korea has also condemned the recent docking of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine, USS Greenville, in the South Korean port city of Busan.
Security analysts say the cruise missile launch was likely intended to signal Pyongyang’s opposition to recent US and South Korean military developments.
A former president of the University of North Korean Studies, Yang Moo-jin, said the missiles tested have an estimated range of about 2,000 kilometres, placing much of the Korean Peninsula and US military bases in Japan within reach.
About the Author
