North Korea test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles on Sunday, with leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the drill and calling for "unlimited and sustained" development of the country's nuclear combat forces.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim expressed satisfaction as the cruise missiles flew along their designated orbit above the Yellow Sea west of the Korean Peninsula and successfully hit their target. The missiles flew for more than two hours during the exercise.
Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the missiles were fired at 8:00 am local time from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. The goal of the exercise was to review the "counter-offensive response posture and combat capability of long-range missile sub-units."
Kim stated the exercises were for "checking the reliability and rapid response" of North Korea's "nuclear deterrent on a regular basis and steadily demonstrating their might." This marks the first such test since early November.
The missile test comes just days after Pyongyang revealed significant progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine, with state media showing Kim inspecting the largely completed 8,700-ton vessel.
Since Kim's 2019 summit with Trump collapsed over the scope of denuclearization and sanctions relief, North Korea has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state. Kim has been emboldened by deepening ties with Russia, securing critical support from Moscow after sending thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
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