Seoul, 15 October (H.S.): North Korea tested two types of strategic cruise missiles launched from a submarine in the East Sea on Wednesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, citing KCNA, the tests were intended to assess the operational readiness of the country’s underwater weapons systems. The North Korean news agency said the exercises evaluated the navy’s ability to conduct strategic operations and demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of the country’s deterrent capabilities.

The report said the missile tests were observed by Kim Jong-sik, a member of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea; Jang Chang-ha, director-general of the Missile Administration; and engineers involved in the development of the navy’s submarine-based weapons systems.

The development comes days after North Korea tested tactical ballistic missiles towards the East Sea from the Pyongyang region on Monday. On Tuesday, Pyongyang said the earlier test was intended to verify the success of research aimed at technologically upgrading a key component of its missile systems.

With the latest cruise missile tests, North Korea has renewed its focus on assessing the operational readiness of its submarine-based weapons capabilities. However, the KCNA report did not disclose the missiles’ range, detailed technical results of the tests or the identity of the submarine used in the exercise.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar