SEOUL – North Korea tested its new strategic cruise missile for the second time in a week on Sunday, calling it a newly developed submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), accelerating its naval nuclear arsenal, state media reported Monday.
Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of the missile, called the “Pulhwasal-3-31,” which is the same strategic cruise missile the North said last week it was developing.
State news agency KCNA and the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the missile flew over the sea off the country’s east coast for 7,421 seconds and 7,445 seconds and hit an unspecified island target, indicating a flight time of more than two hours.
Kim called the test a success, KCNA said, “which has strategic importance in implementing the plan…to modernize the military aimed at building a strong naval force.”
South Korea’s military said on Sunday that the North had fired several cruise missiles off its coast but gave no details.
Last week, the North said it had tested a new strategic cruise missile, suggesting it was designed to carry a nuclear warhead, but at the time did not mention it was being developed for submarine launch.
North Korea tested a newly developed submarine cruise missile on January 28, 2024, according to the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS Kim Jong Un at the launch of “Pulhwasal-3-31.” KCNA via REUTERS
Government media pictures published on Monday showed the missile launching into a cloudy sky from the water trailed by a plume of smoke obscuring the type of platform it was fired from.
North Korea’s cruise missiles are generally less controversial and are not expressly banned under UN Security Council resolutions.
But analysts say intermediate-range cruise missiles are no less of a threat than ballistic missiles and are a serious capability for North Korea.
The missiles flew for 7,421 seconds and 7,445 seconds, according to state media. via REUTERS
In recent months, the North has tested a variety of weapons that include an under-development ballistic missile system and underwater drones.
Kim separately inspected the construction of nuclear submarines and discussed issues related to the construction of other types of new warships, KCNA said but gave no details.
North Korea last year launched what it called its first operational nuclear attack submarine, which analysts say appears to be modified from existing submarines and may be designed to carry ballistic and cruise missiles.
Kim declared the test a success, according to KCNA. KCNA via REUTERS
There are doubts about the real-world utility of such ships, especially compared to more advanced land-based missile systems, because their diesel propulsion produces noise and their range is limited, according to weapons experts.
Kim said at the time that the country would speed up its program to build nuclear-powered submarines.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
