North Korea conducts long-range cruise missile test Photo

North Korea carried out a long-range strategic cruise missile drill over the West Sea on December 28, in a move aimed at testing the readiness and reliability of its missile forces.

The exercise was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, who expressed “great satisfaction” with the outcome and described the launches as a demonstration of the country’s “absolute reliability and combat readiness” of its strategic counterattack capability, Caliber.Az reports via North Korean media. 

The missiles followed pre-set flight paths to designated targets, and the drill was designed to familiarise missile personnel with operational procedures and assess the reliability of North Korea’s strategic weapon systems. Kim said such tests are a “responsible exercise of the right to self-defence and war deterrence” amid ongoing security threats.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed awareness of multiple cruise missile launches originating from the North Korean capital region on the morning of December 28. Seoul emphasised that it remains prepared to respond to potential provocations, in coordination with the United States.

While UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting ballistic missile tests, cruise missile launches are not banned. Analysts caution that such missiles, which can fly at low altitudes and maneuver to evade radar, could pose a threat to US and South Korean forces, including warships and aircraft carriers, in the event of conflict.

The launches follow a series of recent weapons developments by North Korea, including new anti-air missiles tested off its east coast and the apparent completion of a nuclear-powered submarine hull. North Korea has indicated that the submarine may be equipped with nuclear missiles.

Observers note that North Korea’s weapons activities come ahead of the ruling Workers’ Party congress scheduled for early next year, the first in five years, when Kim is expected to outline strategic priorities and foreign policy goals.

By Sabina Mammadli