State media reported today, Monday, that North Korea conducted a test launch of cruise missiles from a submarine and launched an advanced missile for the second time within a week, accelerating the nuclear armament of its naval forces. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the missile test, dubbed Pukguksong-3-31, which aligns with strategic cruise missiles that Pyongyang tested launching the previous week as part of its weapons development program.
The Korean Central News Agency and the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper stated that the missiles flew over the sea off the eastern coast of the country for 7421 seconds and 7445 seconds, striking an unspecified target on an island, indicating that the flight time of the missiles exceeded two hours. Kim described the launch test conducted yesterday, Sunday, as successful, and the Korean Central News Agency noted that it "bears strategic significance in executing the military modernization plan and striving to build a strong naval force."
The South Korean military reported yesterday, Sunday, that North Korea launched several cruise missiles off the coast but did not provide details. Today, they stated that the mentioned flight time was exaggerated, noting that they tracked the missiles and downplayed the likelihood of the use of solid fuel in propelling those missiles. Last week, North Korea claimed to have conducted a test of a new strategic cruise missile and hinted that it was designed to carry nuclear warheads but did not mention at that time that it had been developed for launch from a submarine.
The official agency reported that Kim inspected a nuclear submarine separately and discussed matters related to the manufacturing of other types of naval warships, but the agency did not provide further details on that. The South Korean military stated today that it believes the submarine "has no military use" and appears to be undergoing repairs or maintenance.
