North Korea Claims to Deploy Nuclear Capable Cruise Missiles

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of two long-range strategic cruise missiles, state media reported on Thursday, calling it a test to confirm the reliability and operation of nuclear-capable weapons deployed to military units.

The test fire was carried out on Wednesday and was aimed at "increasing the combat efficiency and power" of cruise missiles deployed to the Korean People's Army "for tactical nuclear operations," state media Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing Reuters Oct. 13.

KCNA reported that the two missiles fired on Wednesday flew for 10,234 seconds to "clearly hit the target 2,000 km (1,240 miles) away."

It was not immediately clear whether the launches were detected by authorities in South Korea, Japan or the United States, who frequently monitor and release information about North Korea's weapons activity.

Wednesday's test confirmed the nuclear role and is now operational, although it is unclear whether North Korea has mastered the technology needed to build a warhead small enough to carry on a cruise missile.

Emphasizing the firing test is another clear warning to the 'enemy', leader Kim Jong-un said, the country "must continue to expand the operational scope of the nuclear strategic armed forces, to resolutely prevent important military crises and war crises at any time and fully take the initiative. in it," according to KCNA.

On Monday, KCNA said that Leader Kim had guided tactical nuclear drills targeting South Korea for the past two weeks, in protest of recent joint naval exercises by South Korean and US forces involving an aircraft carrier.

North Korea first tested a 'strategic' cruise missile in September 2021, which analysts viewed at the time as the country's first nuclear-capable weapon.

Cruise missiles are among a number of small arms recently developed by North Korea, which are seen as being able to fly low and maneuver to better evade missile defenses.

Leader Kim said last year developing a smaller bomb was a key goal. Meanwhile, officials in Seoul said if North Korea resumed nuclear tests for the first time since 2017, developing a smaller device could be one of its goals.

North Korean cruise missiles are usually less desirable than ballistic missiles, as they are not explicitly banned under UN Security Council resolutions.

To note, cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles, which can be armed with conventional or nuclear bombs, are highly unstable in the event of a conflict because it is unclear what type of warhead they carry, analysts said.