North Korea announces testing of submarine-launched cruise missiles

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North Korea's Central News Agency reported on Thursday that the country tested two types of strategic cruise missiles launched from submarines, in order to ensure the capabilities of its naval forces to carry out missions and the readiness of military deterrent means. Pyongyang continues its efforts to develop modern submarines capable of launching missiles, in addition to developing ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and has conducted launch tests from various platforms, including an old submarine.

The latest tests highlight North Korea's efforts to build a reliable naval nuclear deterrent, a goal that is among leader Kim Jong Un's top military priorities, although analysts point out that Pyongyang has not yet demonstrated full operational capabilities in this area. The Korean Central News Agency said that senior military officials supervised the tests conducted in the sea off the east coast of North Korea.

The agency did not give any other details about the missiles or the launches, except to say that the test did not negatively affect the security of neighboring countries. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Thursday that it monitored and monitored the launches using many assets, from before the launch until the final stages of flight.

A spokesman for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the military's assessment concluded that a cruise missile was launched from a vertical system and another from a torpedo tube. South Korean analysts pointed out that the pictures published by the Korean Central News Agency of a submarine launching missiles suggest that the launches were carried out from the Kim Geun Ok Hero submarine, which is a modified diesel-powered submarine that North Korea unveiled in September 2023.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary-General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said that these launches show that “tests are being conducted for combat systems in preparation for operational deployment.” He added, “It is also likely that they will test a submarine-launched ballistic missile soon.”