North Korea conducted a test launch of strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea as part of a military drill designed to showcase its “counterattack” capabilities. The exercise, which took place on Wednesday, was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday.
According to KCNA, the missiles flew for 130 minutes, covering a distance of 1,587 kilometers (approximately 986 miles), before hitting their designated targets “precisely.” The North Korean state media described the purpose of the drills as a warning to the country’s adversaries regarding its readiness to counteract any threats, particularly emphasizing its nuclear capabilities.
Images released by North Korean media depicted Kim Jong Un observing the drills with binoculars while flanked by military officials. One of the visuals showed a missile striking a small building, resulting in a dramatic explosion. During the exercise, Kim emphasized the role of North Korea’s nuclear forces in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and security, asserting that a “powerful striking ability” serves as “the most perfect deterrence and defense.”
KCNA also accused North Korea’s foes of exacerbating tensions and significantly compromising the security environment. Although the agency did not disclose the exact location of the missile launch, analysis from the specialist site NK News suggested it likely occurred near Nampho, situated around 130 kilometers (approximately 80 miles) from the South Korean border.
In response to the missile launch, South Korea’s military confirmed that it had monitored the firing of multiple cruise missiles on Wednesday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that they are closely observing North Korean activities while maintaining a posture capable of overwhelming responses to any provocations.
Analyst Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, commented that this missile test may have been a means for North Korea to assess its nuclear operational readiness. He noted the possibility that Pyongyang could increase the frequency and intensity of provocations in the near future.
Tensions between North Korea and South Korea are currently at a low point, exacerbated by a series of ballistic missile launches by the North last year, which violated United Nations sanctions. Upcoming joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States, called “Freedom Shield,” are set to begin next month. These drills are viewed unfavorably by Pyongyang, which often retaliates with missile tests, claiming that such exercises simulate an invasion.
North Korea last conducted a similar missile test in January, where it claimed to have launched sea-to-surface strategic guided cruise missiles, marking its first such event since Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States again.
Ahn Chan-il, a defector and researcher at the World Institute for North Korea Studies, suggested that the latest launch could be a strategic move by North Korea to attract the attention of the U.S. administration, indicating a desire for a summit with Trump.
Furthermore, U.S. and South Korean intelligence reports indicate that North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to Russia to participate in the conflict against Ukraine, where they have reportedly sustained significant casualties. South Korean intelligence mentioned that additional troops had been sent to Russia, although specific figures were not disclosed, and some soldiers were said to have been redeployed to the frontline in Kursk after previous withdrawals.
In an apparent show of military readiness, Kim recently visited a significant military academy, urging his troops to learn from real-world experiences of modern warfare, as stated by North Korean state media. Neither North Korea nor Russia has officially confirmed the involvement of North Korean forces in the ongoing conflict on behalf of Moscow.
