North Korea said it successfully launched ballistic missiles from a train for the first time on Wednesday, in what it described as a drill to bolster its defences amid rising tensions with the South. The launches came hours after South Korea test-fired its first submarine-launched ballistic missile, underscoring a return of hostilities on the Korean peninsula.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported that the missiles were fired during an exercise of a “railway-borne missile regiment” that transported the weapons system along rail tracks in the mountainous central region. The missiles accurately struck a sea target 800km away, according to state media, which showed images of missiles streaking from rail-car launchers engulfed in flames.
Analysts said the rail-based system reflects North Korea’s efforts to diversify its launch options, which already include various vehicles and ground pads, and may eventually extend to submarines. However, some experts questioned whether rail-mobile missiles would meaningfully improve military capabilities, as North Korea’s simple rail networks would be easy targets during a crisis.
The launches occurred amid a prolonged stalemate in US-led talks aimed at denuclearising North Korea. Pyongyang has been building up its weapons systems to apply pressure on the US for relief from economic sanctions. The South Korean and Japanese militaries confirmed the missiles landed inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone but outside its territorial waters.
