North Korea has test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles off its east coast, state media KCNA reported.
The Wednesday launches were meant to check the reliability of the country’s “war deterrents” and sharpen the navy’s skill in carrying out strategic missions, KCNA said. One of the missiles was a Pulhwasal-3-31, the same type of strategic cruise missile Pyongyang said it fired from land last week.
Senior military officers observed the tests, which KCNA said had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries.
North Korea is not yet believed to have a modern missile submarine in full operation, though it is a top priority for leader Kim Jong Un. Last year, Kim toured a submarine production facility where state media images showed an 8,700-tonne nuclear-powered missile submarine under construction. He described a US–South Korea nuclear submarine deal as a threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula, KCNA reported.
