North Korea test-fires submarine-launched cruise missiles in Sea of Japan
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By The South Asia Times
SEOUL - North Korea test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the Sea of Japan on Wednesday to assess the readiness of its underwater weapons systems, state media reported Thursday.
The launches were designed to evaluate underwater combat capabilities and improve the navy’s ability to carry out strategic missions, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The missiles were test-fired on October 14, and the launches posed no danger to neighboring countries, according to the report. KCNA did not provide details about the missiles’ flight distances or specify their intended targets.
The tests were overseen by Kim Jong Sik, a member of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Commission, and Jang Chang Ha, director-general of North Korea’s Missile Administration, along with naval engineers specializing in underwater weapons systems.
KCNA did not say whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the test.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the submarine involved may have been a vessel unveiled in 2023 and designed for tactical nuclear attack missions. The identity of the submarine has not been independently confirmed.
The latest launch comes as Pyongyang continues to develop weapons designed to strengthen its military capabilities, including systems that can be launched from naval platforms.
In January 2025, North Korea said it had test-fired strategic sea-to-surface cruise missiles that struck their targets after flying about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) along elliptical and figure-eight trajectories for more than two hours.
Submarine-launched missiles can complicate an adversary’s efforts to detect and track an attack before launch. Cruise missiles can also fly at relatively low altitudes and follow routes that differ from those of ballistic missiles, presenting additional challenges for air-defense systems.
North Korea’s weapons development has remained a source of concern for South Korea, Japan and the United States, which have strengthened security cooperation amid Pyongyang’s expanding missile capabilities.
