North Korea said it had tested cruise missiles equipped with new “large-sized” warheads – as well as a new type of anti-aircraft missile.
The tests you mentioned North Korean State media on Saturday celebrated the fourth round of launches of the system so far in 2024.
This comes a day after the South Korean military announced that it had discovered the North firing several cruise missiles into the waters off its western coast.
North Korean photos of the test showed a low-flying cruise missile hitting a target built on a coastal beach, and another missile was shown flying in the air after being launched from the ground.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency did not specify the number of missiles tested or details of their performance.
The KCNA report said the cruise missiles contained “extremely large” warheads and were tested as part of the country's “normal activities” for military development and did not affect the security of its neighbors.
Cruise missiles are among a growing array of North Korean weapons designed to overcome regional missile defenses.
It complements the country's extensive lineup of ballistic missiles, including long-range weapons aimed at the continental United States.
Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is an area where North Korea could benefit from its deepening military cooperation with Russia, as the two countries line up in their separate and intensifying confrontations with the United States.
In January, North Korea conducted two tests of a new cruise missile designed to be launched from submarines, which leader Kim Jong Un described as an important step toward his goal of building a nuclear-armed navy.
North Korea also conducted tests of a long-range cruise missile, which it described as nuclear-capable and that could cover a range of up to 1,240 miles, which could put US military bases in Japan within easy reach.
Read more:
Claims to test a drone for an underwater nuclear attack
Kim Jong Un orders troops to intensify preparations for war
A television screen in Seoul, South Korea, shows an image of North Korea's missile test. Photo: AP
These cruise missile tests followed the launch of a new solid-fueled intermediate-range missile on January 14, which highlighted North Korea's efforts to develop weapons that could target US assets in the Pacific, including the military center on the island of Guam.
Friday's launches came hours after North Korean state media said Kim reiterated his focus on strengthening his navy as he inspected the construction of warships at a shipyard in Nampho on the west coast.
In recent months, Kim has emphasized efforts to build a nuclear-armed navy to counter what he portrays as growing threats posed by the United States, South Korea and Japan, which have stepped up their military cooperation in response to his nuclear ambitions.
There are concerns that Kim, emboldened by steady progress in his nuclear arsenal and strengthening ties with Russia, may turn up the pressure on his election-year rivals in the United States and South Korea.
Experts say Kim's long-term goal is to force the United States to accept the idea of the North being a nuclear power and negotiate security concessions and sanctions relief from a position of strength.
