North Korea announced on Wednesday that its Missile General Bureau conducted a test launch of a sea-to-ground strategic cruise missile off the western coast on the previous day.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the upgraded cruise missiles, designed for shipboard launch, were fired vertically and flew for approximately 7,800 seconds (2 hours and 10 minutes) along a predetermined trajectory over the West Sea, successfully neutralizing their targets.
The test launch was observed by Pak Jong-chon, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission; Kim Jong-sik, a member of the Central Military Commission; Jang Chang-ha, Director of the Missile General Bureau; the naval equipment deputy commander; and shipboard weapons systems engineers. Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader, was not reported to be present.
Vice Chairman Pak emphasized that significant progress is being made in operationalizing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, in line with the Party Central Committee’s strategic intent to continuously expand the application of war deterrence measures. He stated that consistently testing the reliability and credibility of various strategic offensive weapons and demonstrating their capabilities to adversaries is itself an extension of the deterrence strategy and a more responsible approach.
Pak further elaborated that the Supreme Leader has already defined that deterrence backed by strong offensive capabilities is the most complete form of war prevention and defense. It must continuously enhance our combat readiness, and it is the solemn duty and mission to constantly refine our nuclear combat posture.
On the same day, Vice Chairman Pak inspected the operational training of the 5,000-ton destroyers Choe Hyon and Gang Geon, as well as the weapons systems training of naval personnel. He provided guidance on tasks aimed at improving the military proficiency of the naval forces.
This test launch of North Korea’s ship-to-ground cruise missile is particularly significant as it follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. North Korea has maintained silence regarding Trump’s proposal. President Trump is scheduled to visit South Korea on the day of the announcement.
Notably, while the test launch was reported by the Korean Central News Agency—a media outlet aimed at foreign audiences—it was not covered in the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which is primarily read by North Korean citizens.
