North Korea launches missiles from submarine as U.S.-South Korean drills begin

SEOUL (Reuters) – A nuclear-armed North Korea fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine on Monday, state-owned KCNA said on Monday.

“Strategic” is usually used to describe weapons with nuclear capabilities.

KCNA said the launch confirmed the system’s reliability and tested underwater strike operations for the submarine force that forms part of North Korea’s nuclear deterrent.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military was on alert and that the country’s intelligence services were working with US intelligence to analyze details of the launch.

On Monday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries were scheduled to begin an 11-day joint exercise dubbed “Freedom Shield 23,” held on a scale not seen since 2017.

The training will strengthen the allies’ overall defense posture and will feature field exercises, including amphibious landings, according to both services.

North Korea has long resented what it sees as a rehearsal for aggression. In an effort to strengthen our nuclear deterrence and bring more weapons into full operation, we have conducted a record number of missile tests and exercises over the past year.

The submarine launch aims to show North Korea’s determination to control a situation in which “the US imperialists and their South Korean puppet forces are hiding their identities more than ever in their anti-North Korea military campaigns.” said KCNA.

DPRK stands for North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

KCNA said a strategic cruise missile was launched early Sunday from the 8.24 Ryugu submarine in waters off South Korea’s east coast.

The KCNA report said the missile traveled about 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) before hitting its underwater target.

Although North Korea has a large submarine fleet, the 8.24 Yonggun (Hero of August 24) is the only known experimental ballistic missile submarine. Analysts say it plays a key role in the development of missiles, submarine technology and operational procedures, as well as hands-on training of new submarines.

North Korea said it is building an operational ballistic missile submarine.

While overseeing short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launch exercises on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he would step up training to deter and respond to “real war” if necessary. ordered the army.

State media on Sunday said Chairman Kim Jong-un led a meeting of the ruling parties to discuss “important and practical steps” to boost the country’s war deterrence amid stepped-up actions by the United States and South Korea. reported to have decided. The report does not provide details of the measures.

Reported by Hyunsu Yim and Josh Smith. Edited by Lisa Shumaker and Howard Goller

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