North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presided over new missile tests, images published by Pyongyang's state media appear to show, in the latest show of military force from the secretive nation.
The North Korean leader watched a test-fire of a "newly-developed submarine-launched strategic cruise missile," known as the "Pulhwasal-3-31," on Sunday, state media reported. At least two cruise missiles were fired, according to details reported by state media agency, KCNA.
South Korea's military had said Pyongyang had fired a number of cruise missiles in the waters off its east coast at approximately 8 a.m. local time on Sunday (6 p.m. ET on Saturday). The missiles were launched from a shipyard close to the eastern city of Sinpo, where North Korea is working on building a submarine, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported, citing Seoul's armed forces.
The test had "no impact on the security of a neighboring country and has nothing to do with the regional situation," KCNA reported on Monday. Two missiles flew for over two hours, state media said.
North Korean state media had reported last week that its military had carried out the "first test fire" of the "Bulhwasal-3-31" strategic missile on Wednesday.
Repeated missile tests—which go against United Nations resolutions—and bellicose rhetoric from North Korea towards its southern neighbor and Seoul's ally, the U.S, have raised tensions around the peninsula. Earlier this month, Pyongyang said it had completed a test of its "underwater nuclear weapons system," a drone reportedly able to carry a nuclear weapon that is designed to carry out stealth attacks in enemy waters.
KCNA said on Monday the submarine-launched cruise missile test was part of "building a powerful naval force," and that the "nuclear weaponization of the navy is an urgent task."
Newsweek has reached out to the North Korean representatives at the United Nations via email.
Back in September, Pyongyang said it had developed its first submarine capable of launching nuclear weapons, although Western experts were skeptical about the vessel's true capabilities. North Korea also tore up an agreement with Seoul that tried to hamper rising border tensions after Pyongyang launched what is believed to be its first successful satellite in November.
The U.S. has carried out joint naval drills with South Korea and Japan, a move that has angered North Korea and prompted some analysts to suggest Pyongyang could be gearing up for a wider conflict.
"The current situation, in which frantic nuclear war drills are being staged against the DPRK [North Korea] from the outset of the new year, requires the DPRK to be fully prepared for a war and thoroughly deter the U.S. and its stooges' invasion with overwhelming power," state media reported on Sunday.
The country said in late December it would "further accelerate war preparations" in the face of "unprecedented anti-DPRK [North Korea] confrontation maneuvers of the U.S. and its vassal forces."
"Kim Jong Un has made a strategic decision to go to war," researchers writing for U.S. website 38 North, dedicated to analyzing North Korea, wrote earlier this month. But many other experts are doubtful, suggesting Pyongyang would not emerge victorious from a military confrontation with South Korea.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more
