North Korea fires strategic cruise missiles, vows tough stance on US

On January 25, North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test, marking its third known weapons display this year. 

The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, personally oversaw the launch, Caliber.Az reports via a North Korean state media outlet. 

The test involved underwater-to-surface missiles that travelled a distance of 1,500 kilometres and remained in flight for approximately 7,507 to 7,511 seconds before successfully hitting their targets.

In a separate statement, North Korea’s foreign ministry warned of the “toughest counteraction” against the United States as long as Washington refuses to recognize Pyongyang’s sovereignty. The statement attributed rising tensions in the region to joint military exercises and alliances between South Korea and the U.S.

Kim Jong Un emphasized that North Korea’s war deterrence capabilities are being "perfected more thoroughly," asserting that the country would continue its efforts to strengthen its military. He added that North Korea would “perform its important mission and duty for defending sustainable and lasting peace and stability” through further military developments.

On the same day, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korea had launched multiple cruise missiles from inland areas toward the west coast at approximately 4 p.m. local time. The missile test is seen as part of North Korea's broader strategy to enhance its national defence in response to shifting regional security dynamics.

Earlier in January, Kim Jong Un also oversaw a successful test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, further signalling the North's ongoing focus on advancing its military capabilities.

On January 6, North Korea conducted its first missile test of the year, launching a ballistic missile into the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The missile reportedly flew approximately 1,100 kilometers before landing in the ocean. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) assessed the missile as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), potentially equipped with a hypersonic warhead. This launch coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul and occurred just two weeks before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

In response, the European Union condemned the launch, stating that it violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The EU called on North Korea to cease such actions and engage in dialogue to achieve sustainable peace and security in the region.

On January 14, North Korea conducted a second missile launch, firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers before landing between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea's military condemned the launch as a provocation and a threat to regional stability, enhancing surveillance in collaboration with the U.S. and Japan.

By Khagan Isayev