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- North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles (nbcnews.com)
North Korea Flexes Nuclear Muscle with Latest Cruise Missile Launches
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea announced Monday it conducted long-range strategic cruise missile tests over the weekend, a move it claims bolsters its nuclear deterrence. This latest display of military might comes just days after the reclusive nation hinted at significant progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine.
The launches, which took place on Sunday, are the latest in a series of weapons demonstrations by Pyongyang as it prepares for an upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress early next year. Observers will be keenly watching the congress, the first in five years, for any shifts in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s approach to relations with the United States and whether he will respond to Washington’s calls to resume long-stalled talks.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with Sunday’s launches, which occurred off the country’s west coast. Kim reportedly stated that these tests, aimed at validating the reliability and demonstrating the strength of North Korea’s nuclear deterrence, are a “responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence” in the face of perceived external security threats.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed it detected several cruise missile launches from North Korea’s capital region on Sunday morning. They affirmed that South Korea, in alliance with the United States, maintains a high state of readiness to counter any potential provocations from the North.
While United Nations Security Council resolutions forbid North Korea from ballistic missile launches, its cruise missile tests are not explicitly banned. However, these missiles still pose a significant threat to the U.S. and South Korea due to their high maneuverability and ability to fly at low altitudes, making them difficult to detect by radar. Analysts suggest North Korea would likely employ cruise missiles to target U.S. warships and aircraft carriers in the event of a conflict.
Last week, North Korea conducted tests of new anti-air missiles off its east coast and released photographs showcasing a largely completed hull of a developmental nuclear-powered submarine. The implication was clear: this submarine would be armed with nuclear missiles.
A nuclear-powered submarine is one of several advanced weapons systems Kim has pledged to develop to counter what he describes as U.S.-led security threats. Some experts believe North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia, including the alleged transfer of thousands of troops and military equipment to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, may have facilitated the acquisition of crucial technologies in return.
Since the collapse of high-stakes nuclear diplomacy between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, North Korea has intensified its weapons-testing activities, focusing on expanding its nuclear arsenal.
However, in what appeared to be a response to repeated outreach from Trump, Kim suggested in September that he might be open to talks if the U.S. abandoned its “delusional obsession with denuclearization” of North Korea. Experts speculate that Kim may believe his expanded nuclear arsenal will provide greater leverage to extract concessions in potential future negotiations with Trump.
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- North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles (nbcnews.com)