North Korean leader inspects submarine missile test launch

On January 29, Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported that leader Kim Jong-un inspected the test launch of a submarine-launched cruise missile and Pyongyang's nuclear submarine construction project.

North Korea's submarine missile test launch. Photo: KCNA/YONHAP

North Korea launched the “Pulhwasal-3-31” strategic cruise missile from a submarine on January 28. The missile hit its designated targets on an island in the East Sea of North Korea after flying for about 7,421 to 7,445 seconds. North Korea has not yet provided information on the distance the missile traveled before hitting its target.

Meanwhile, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) affirmed that the test-launch of a submarine-launched missile “did not cause any impact on the security of a neighboring country and was unrelated to the regional situation,” and said that Mr. Kim Jong-un was “extremely satisfied” with the results of the launch.

Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including test launches of a weapons system that can deliver nuclear warheads underwater and a hypersonic ballistic missile that uses solid fuel.

On January 24, North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had test-fired the Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile. According to Pyongyang, this was an effort to enhance the capability of tactical nuclear warhead missiles.

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