North Korea tests submarine-launched cruise missiles amid US-South Korea military exercises
(MENAFN) On Monday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries commenced their largest joint military exercises in years, while North Korea tested submarine-launched cruise missiles in apparent protest of the drills it sees as an invasion rehearsal. North Korea's missile launches on Sunday suggest that it will likely conduct provocative weapons testing during the 11-day U.S.-South Korean drills. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un instructed his troops to be prepared to repel what it sees as its rivals' "frantic war preparation moves."
The joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea include a computer simulation called the Freedom Shield 23 and several combined field training exercises, known as the Warrior Shield FTX. The simulation is aimed at strengthening the allies' defense and response capabilities amid North Korea's growing nuclear threats and changing security environments. The field exercises will also return to the scale of their largest field training exercise called Foal Eagle, last held in 2018.
According to a recent U.S. military statement, the field exercises are intended to enhance the two militaries' cooperation through air, land, sea, space, cyber, and special operations, as well as improve their tactics, techniques, and procedures.
North Korea, in its state media, said that its launches of two cruise missiles from a submarine off its east coast showed its resolve to respond with "overwhelming powerful" force to the intensifying military maneuvers by the "U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces." The official Korean Central News Agency called the missiles "strategic" weapons and said their launches verified the operation posture of the country's "nuclear war deterrence," implying North Korea's intention to arm the cruise missiles with nuclear warheads.
KCNA said the missiles flew for over two hours, drawing figure-eight-shaped patterns, and demonstrating an ability to hit targets 930 miles away. The missiles were fired from the 8.24 Yongung ship, referencing a submarine that North Korea used to conduct its first submarine-launched ballistic missile test in 2016. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch details show Japan, including U.S. military bases in Okinawa, are within striking distance of the cruise missiles, if fired from the North's eastern waters. He added that the weapons could also reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam if a North Korean submarine can operate further from its shore.
The joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea include a computer simulation called the Freedom Shield 23 and several combined field training exercises, known as the Warrior Shield FTX. The simulation is aimed at strengthening the allies' defense and response capabilities amid North Korea's growing nuclear threats and changing security environments. The field exercises will also return to the scale of their largest field training exercise called Foal Eagle, last held in 2018.
According to a recent U.S. military statement, the field exercises are intended to enhance the two militaries' cooperation through air, land, sea, space, cyber, and special operations, as well as improve their tactics, techniques, and procedures.
North Korea, in its state media, said that its launches of two cruise missiles from a submarine off its east coast showed its resolve to respond with "overwhelming powerful" force to the intensifying military maneuvers by the "U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces." The official Korean Central News Agency called the missiles "strategic" weapons and said their launches verified the operation posture of the country's "nuclear war deterrence," implying North Korea's intention to arm the cruise missiles with nuclear warheads.
KCNA said the missiles flew for over two hours, drawing figure-eight-shaped patterns, and demonstrating an ability to hit targets 930 miles away. The missiles were fired from the 8.24 Yongung ship, referencing a submarine that North Korea used to conduct its first submarine-launched ballistic missile test in 2016. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch details show Japan, including U.S. military bases in Okinawa, are within striking distance of the cruise missiles, if fired from the North's eastern waters. He added that the weapons could also reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam if a North Korean submarine can operate further from its shore.
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