North Korea says it tested two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles
In short
North Korea said it tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the East Sea on October 14. South Korean outlets reported the announcement on October 15, noting that South Korea's military had not separately announced the launches.
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North Korea announced that it had tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the East Sea on October 14. Its Korean Central News Agency reported the Missile Administration's tests on October 15, according to Yonhap and other South Korean outlets. KCNA said the launches checked the regular readiness of underwater combat systems and contributed to training the navy to perform strategic missions. It also described the tests as demonstrating the reliability and capability of North Korea's war-deterrence systems. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Officials reported to have observed the launches included Kim Jong-sik (김정식), first deputy department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee, and Jang Chang-ha (장창하), head of the Missile Administration. North Korean naval engineers responsible for underwater weapon systems also attended, the reports said. Newsis additionally identified Kim Jong-sik as a member of the party's Central Military Commission. That outlet said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not appear to have attended. KCNA claimed that the tests had no negative effect on the safety of neighbouring countries. [ 3 , 4 , 11 ]
The announcement was carried by KCNA, described in the supplied coverage as an outlet aimed at external audiences. It did not appear in Rodong Sinmun, the party newspaper read by North Korean residents, the reports said. South Korean military authorities had not disclosed the launches, according to Korea Economic Daily and Seoul Economic Daily. Newsis reported specifically that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had not separately notified the media of the previous day's submarine-launched cruise-missile tests. [ 3 , 4 , 11 ]
Why it matters
North Korea said the tests checked underwater combat systems' readiness and helped train its navy for strategic missions. Those assessments are North Korean claims; the supplied reports provide no separate South Korean announcement of the launches.
Key facts
- KCNA said North Korea's Missile Administration tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles on October 14. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- North Korea said the tests checked readiness and demonstrated the reliability and capability of its deterrent. [ 3 , 4 , 11 ]
- The reports said the news appeared in KCNA but not Rodong Sinmun, and South Korea's military did not separately announce the launches. [ 3 , 4 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Separate verification of the launches and North Korea's claims about their results. The supplied coverage cites KCNA, while noting that South Korea's military had not separately announced the launches.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reported North Korea's announcement on October 15. [ 2 ]