North Korea Tests Strategic Cruise Missile Launch from Submarines

North Korea conducted test launches of two types of strategic submarine-launched cruise missiles, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday.

The agency stated that the missiles were launched on Wednesday toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, without “any negative impact on the security of neighboring countries.”

This comes weeks after tensions escalated following an explosion of a landmine along the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea.

Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the blast on September 21 in the area controlled by Seoul within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The two countries subsequently tested advanced missile technologies.

KCNA said the latest test “aimed to verify the current operational readiness of underwater combat systems,” and was conducted as part of naval exercises.

Images released by the agency showed a missile launching vertically from the sea, leaving behind a thick column of smoke. Another image showed a projectile launching from the water at a 45-degree angle.

North Korea has conducted numerous submarine-launched missile tests in recent years, but its sea-launch capabilities remain unclear.

Cruise missiles typically rely on jet propulsion and fly at lower altitudes than more advanced ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

If Pyongyang possesses a proven submarine-launch capability, it would elevate North Korea’s arsenal to a new level and enable deployment beyond the Korean Peninsula.