North Korea has conducted a significant test of long-range strategic cruise missiles, an act its leader Kim Jong Un observed with 'great satisfaction'. The launches, which took place on Sunday, December 29, are the latest in a series of weapons demonstrations that heighten tensions in the region.
Details of the Missile Launch
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the missiles were fired from the country's west coast into the sea. The test was framed by the regime as a 'responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence' against perceived external security threats. This event follows closely on the heels of Pyongyang's recent announcement regarding progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine.
Regional and International Response
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed it had detected several cruise missile launches from the North Korean capital region on Sunday morning. In response, Seoul reiterated its readiness to repel any provocation, bolstered by its alliance with the United States.
While United Nations Security Council resolutions explicitly ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles, the rules around cruise missiles are less clear. However, analysts note that these weapons pose a distinct threat due to their ability to fly at low altitudes and manoeuvre, making them difficult for radar systems to detect. It is believed they could be used to target US warships and aircraft carriers in a potential conflict.
Escalating Weapons Programme and Diplomacy
This latest test underscores North Korea's intensified focus on expanding its military capabilities since high-level denuclearisation talks with former US President Donald Trump broke down in 2019. Kim Jong Un has stated a conditional openness to future talks, but only if Washington abandons its 'delusional obsession with denuclearization'.
Some observers suggest that Pyongyang's deepening alignment with Russia may be providing crucial technological assistance for its weapons programmes. With a major Workers' Party congress scheduled for early next year, further weapons demonstrations are anticipated as the regime seeks to showcase its growing arsenal.
