North Korea Tests Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles, Escalating Naval Nuclear Armament
North Korea conducted tests of its new submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) on Sunday, marking the second firing of an upgraded missile within a week and intensifying the nuclear armament of its navy, state media reported on Monday.
Supervised by Leader Kim Jong Un, the test of the missile, named "Pulhwasal-3-31," mirrored the strategic cruise missiles launched by North Korea the previous week as part of its efforts to upgrade its weapons system.
According to state news agency KCNA and the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the missiles flew above the sea off the country's east coast for 7,421 and 7,445 seconds, respectively, hitting an unspecified island target. This extended flight time, exceeding two hours, was highlighted as a significant achievement by Kim, who emphasized its strategic importance in modernizing the army and strengthening the naval force.
While South Korea's military confirmed that North Korea had fired multiple cruise missiles off its coast on Sunday, it disputed the claimed flight time as an exaggeration and downplayed the possibility of solid fuel propulsion. Despite North Korea's claims, South Korean military officials maintained that the missiles were tracked in real-time and cast doubt on the use of solid fuel.
Photographs released by state media depicted a missile launching from the water into a cloudy sky, trailed by a plume of smoke, obscuring the launch platform's type.
North Korea's pursuit of cruise missiles, though not explicitly banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, has raised concerns among analysts. They argue that intermediate-range cruise missiles pose a significant threat comparable to ballistic missiles, contributing to North Korea's evolving military capabilities.
In addition to cruise missiles, North Korea has tested an array of weapons, including ballistic missile systems under development and an underwater drone, in recent months.
Kim Jong Un also inspected the construction of a nuclear submarine and discussed manufacturing issues related to new warships, as reported by KCNA. However, specific details regarding these developments were not disclosed.
North Korea's announcement last year of its first operational nuclear attack submarine was met with skepticism from weapons experts, who questioned its real-world utility compared to advanced land-based missile systems. South Korea's military echoed these sentiments, suggesting the submarine may have limited military use and appeared to be undergoing repair or maintenance.
Despite doubts surrounding the effectiveness of its naval developments, North Korea remains committed to accelerating its program to build nuclear-powered submarines, as emphasized by Kim Jong Un's statements.
