North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles from east coast

South Korea did not specify how many missiles were launched but said it had stepped up surveillance and vigilance and was working with the United States to analyze the latest launch.

Earlier, on January 24, North Korea said it tested a new strategic cruise missile called "Pulhwasal-3-31". The missile is under development, and the test is also part of the process of updating the country's weapons system.

A North Korean weapons launch. (Photo: KCNA)

The North Korean newspaper KCNA stressed that the missile test on January 24 "has nothing to do" with the regional situation and does not affect the security of neighboring countries. Meanwhile, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik condemned the launch by North Korea, saying it was a serious threat.

North Korea also test-fired a solid-fuel medium-range hypersonic missile on January 14. The launch was aimed at checking the reliability of a new high-thrust multi-stage solid-fuel engine and a medium-range hypersonic maneuvering warhead.

North Korea's cruise missiles often receive less attention than its ballistic missiles because UN Security Council resolutions do not explicitly ban Pyongyang's use of these missiles.

However, analysts say intermediate-range land-attack cruise missiles pose as much of a threat as ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles, which can be armed with conventional or nuclear warheads, are considered particularly destabilizing in the event of a conflict because it is unclear what type of warhead they will carry.

The missile launch came days after Pyongyang announced it had conducted a test of an underwater nuclear weapons system in response to joint military exercises by the US, South Korea and Japan.

Amid rising tensions, officials in Washington and Seoul said they had seen no signs that Pyongyang intended to take military action.

Still, officials and analysts say North Korea is likely to continue or even increase its provocations as it makes progress in developing ballistic missiles.

Phuong Anh (Source: Reuters, AFP)

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