North Korea announced on Sunday that it successfully tested a cruise missile system, marking its third known weapons display this year. The move comes as Pyongyang vowed to deliver “the toughest” response to what it perceives as escalating U.S.-South Korea military drills, which it views as rehearsals for invasion.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test of “sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided weapons” on Saturday. The term “strategic” is widely interpreted as an indication the missiles could carry nuclear warheads. KCNA reported that the missiles traveled 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) in elliptical and figure-eight flight patterns before hitting their intended targets. Independent verification of these claims has not been possible.
Kim reportedly stated that North Korea’s deterrence capabilities “are being perfected more thoroughly” and emphasized the need for “strenuous efforts” to defend stability based on “more powerfully developed military muscle.”
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launches, stating that several cruise missiles were fired toward the western waters from an inland location at approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday. In response, South Korea reiterated its commitment to maintaining readiness in conjunction with its U.S. military allies to “overwhelmingly” repel any provocations.
Rising Tensions with the U.S.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement through KCNA criticizing ongoing U.S.-South Korea military exercises, accusing Washington of “serious military provocations.” The ministry vowed to counter the United States with “the toughest counteraction from A to Z.”
North Korea has repeatedly expressed hostility toward the joint drills, which the U.S. and South Korea insist are defensive in nature. In recent years, these exercises have been expanded to address North Korea’s growing nuclear capabilities.
Diplomacy Prospects with the U.S.
The weapons test coincides with renewed speculation about the possibility of revived diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea under President Donald Trump, who recently began his second term. Trump, who held three summits with Kim Jong Un during his first term, signaled his willingness to reach out to the North Korean leader again.
During a Fox News interview on Thursday, Trump described Kim as “a smart guy” and confirmed his intention to reconnect. However, analysts suggest that Kim may feel emboldened by his country’s enhanced nuclear arsenal and closer military ties with Russia, which could shift the dynamics of any future negotiations.
Critics in South Korea fear Trump may scale back U.S.-South Korea military drills or compromise on the goal of full denuclearization by focusing only on long-range missile threats to the U.S.
Challenges in Recognizing North Korea as a Nuclear State
In a news conference on Monday, Trump referred to North Korea as “a nuclear power,” a departure from Washington’s long-standing policy of rejecting such recognition. Acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear state risks legitimizing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.
North Korea has yet to respond to Trump’s latest overtures, but the cruise missile tests suggest Pyongyang will likely maintain its confrontational stance for now.
This report is based on information provided by Hyung-jin Kim of the Associated Press, a correspondent in Seoul specializing in security and political affairs on the Korean Peninsula.
