SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a strategic cruise missile test, as confirmed by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA on Monday, coinciding with the commencement of annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States—a move perceived by Pyongyang as a rehearsal for hostilities.
Kim Jong Un personally inspected the naval fleet stationed along the east coast and monitored the test from a warship, as detailed by KCNA, which did not specify the exact date of his visit.
The missile launch was conducted to validate “the combat capabilities of the ship and the traits of its missile system,” while enhancing the sailors’ proficiency in executing “offensive operations in real combat situations.” KCNA further reported that the ship’s missiles accurately struck the designated target. Kim Jong Un affirmed that the ship would maintain “impressive maneuverability and formidable striking potency, consistently sustaining combat preparedness to address unforeseen contingencies,” as per the statement from KCNA.
South Korea’s defense ministry acknowledged having detected indications of the missile launch, but refuted KCNA’s characterization of the event as “inflated” and “inconsistent with actual facts,” albeit without providing additional details.
This missile trial coincided with the commencement of the Ulchi Freedom Shield summer exercise between South Korea and the United States. This joint military exercise aims to reinforce their collaborative response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. Pyongyang has consistently condemned these drills, categorizing them as a rehearsal for nuclear warfare.
According to South Korea’s military, this year’s iteration of the exercise is slated to be the “largest ever,” engaging tens of thousands of troops from both nations, in addition to select personnel from the United Nations Command.
South Korean President Yoon Hek-yeol affirmed that the drills would encompass various contingency scenarios, including cyberattacks, terrorism, drone incursions, and North Korea’s dissemination of disinformation. Yoon emphasized that “genuine peace can only be preserved through overwhelming strength, not through unilateral supplications or gestures of goodwill,” as conveyed during a National Security Council meeting.
Yoon underscored the nation’s resolute response to provocations, stating, “While North Korea speaks of pre-emptive nuclear strikes and preparations for offensive warfare, our retaliation to any provocations will be swift and resounding.”
Given the ongoing military exercises and the recent South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit, South Korean lawmakers have expressed concerns that North Korea might conduct activities such as intercontinental ballistic missile testing in protest.
For the past two years, North Korea has been actively testing “strategic cruise missiles,” which some analysts speculate could potentially be armed with nuclear warheads. In March, North Korea showcased a new underwater attack drone with nuclear capabilities, demonstrating its ongoing efforts to modernize and bolster its naval capacities.
These cruise missiles exhibit a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), capable of striking land-based targets. The recently tested ship is indicative of a frigate-class vessel designed to minimize radar detection. The ship-based trial was underscored by Kim Jong Un’s commitment to enhancing the navy’s capabilities, emphasizing advancements in both surface and underwater offensive and defensive attributes.
