North Korea has tested a newly developed lightweight multipurpose missile launching system and multiple tactical cruise missiles, state media said Wednesday, with leader Kim Jong-un overseeing the test as part of Pyongyang's ongoing weapons modernisation drive
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SEOUL — North Korea has tested a newly developed lightweight multipurpose missile launching system and multiple tactical cruise missiles, state media said Wednesday, with leader Kim Jong-un overseeing the test as part of Pyongyang's ongoing weapons modernisation drive.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the report a day after South Korea's military detected the launch of multiple close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) and artillery rockets toward the Yellow Sea from the Jongju area of North Phyongan Province.
CRBMs refer to ballistic missiles that have a relatively short range of less than 300 kilometers.
Tuesday's test was "part of the plan for modernising the artillery and missile armed forces to attain the five-year goal for national defence development," the KCNA report said.
The test "analysed and estimated the power of special mission warhead of tactical ballistic missile, the reliability of 240mm controlled artillery rocket with expanded firing range which employed an ultra-precision autonomous navigation system, and the AI-guided hit accuracy of tactical cruise missile," it added.
According to the report, Kim expressed "great satisfaction" over the test, calling it "a clear signal of" military advancement and growing combat capability.
Kim gave particular praise to the tactical cruise missile, which the report said is set to be deployed at long-range artillery units near the southern border.
The missile combines multiple navigation systems, including terrain-mapping and AI-guided targeting, allowing it to strike any target within 100 kilometres with high precision, it said.
Kim reaffirmed Pyongyang's drive to build up both its nuclear and conventional forces remains unchanged, warning that its determination to defend its military sovereignty and right to self-defence would "be expressed in a clearer action."
The simultaneous test-firing of CRBMs and artillery rockets, considered unusual, is seen as a demonstration of North Korea's ability to strike targets while evading air defense systems.
It marked North Korea's eighth missile test of the year, following an April 19 launch of surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles fired toward the East Sea from North Korea's Sinpho area.
Meanwhile, Seoul announced the previous day plans to develop and build nuclear-propelled submarines, with the goal of bringing them into operational service after the late 2030s, Yonhap news agency reported.
"Nuclear-powered submarines are expected to play a key role in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, based on their ability to remain submerged for an extended period with greater mobility," Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday.