On Tuesday, North Korea launched a strategic cruise missile over the Yellow Sea, likely to test the performance of vertical launch systems for surface ships and submarines, according to a military analysis released on Wednesday.
The Defense Intelligence Agency reported to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the ruling People Power Party that South Korean forces recently detected upgraded Hwasal-series strategic cruise missiles being launched vertically from waters northwest of Nampo, North Korea.
The agency stated that it assesses that the purpose of this launch was to evaluate the vertical launch system for ship and submarine-based cruise missiles. They added that following the ballistic missile test on October 22, this cruise missile launch appears designed to demonstrate strike capabilities against South Korea and draw attention to North Korea’s military presence.
Hwasal is North Korea’s designation for its cruise missile system, which it claims can carry nuclear warheads. While cruise missiles aren’t subject to the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions like ballistic missiles, Pyongyang has long asserted that its Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles can be armed with tactical nuclear warheads, dubbed Hwasan-31.
North Korean state media reported that the country’s Missile Command conducted a test launch of a sea-based strategic cruise missile on Tuesday.
The missile reportedly flew for approximately 7,800 seconds (2 hours and 10 minutes) over the Yellow Sea. Senior officials, including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Pak Jong-chon, observed the test.
This cruise missile test came just one day before U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
A week earlier, on October 22, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from near Junghwa, North Hwanghae Province, which it claimed were hypersonic.