Supervise North Korea's Missile Launch Test, Kim Jong-un: Has Strategic Meaning

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversees the test launch of submarine cruise missiles (Source: KCNA)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is again directly monitoring the country's missile launch test, this time it's the turn of the submarine-based cruise missile (SLCM), KCNA reported on Monday.

Photos published by state media on Monday showed a missile launched into cloudy skies from the water, followed by a puff of smoke that obscured the type of platform used to fire it.

This is the second time the country has launched a strategic cruise missile, with yesterday's launch from a newly developed submarine, signaling the rapid development of the country's naval arsenal.

Leader Kim oversaw the missile test, called "Pulhwasal-3-31", identical to the strategic cruise missile that North Korea said last week was under development.

State news agency KCNA and official newspaper Rodong Sinmun said the missiles flew over the country's sea off the east coast for 7,421 seconds and 7,445 seconds and reached an unspecified island target, with a time record showing more than two hours.

"(This) has a strategic meaning in implementing plans to modernize the armed forces aimed at building strong naval forces," said leader Kim, who called the trial a success, according to KCNA.

Earlier, the South Korean military said on Sunday North Korea fired several offshore cruise missiles but did not provide details.

Last week, North Korea said it had tested a new strategic cruise missile, which suggests it was designed to carry a nuclear warhead, but at the time it did not say the missile was being developed for submarine launch.

North Korea's cruise missiles are usually less controversial and are not explicitly prohibited based on UN Security Council resolutions. However, analysts say medium-range cruise missiles are no less threatened with ballistic missiles and are a serious capability for North Korea.

In recent months, North Korea has tested a series of weapons that include an underdeveloped ballistic missile system and underwater drones.

Kim's leader separately examined the construction of nuclear submarines and discussed issues related to the construction of other types of warships, KCNA said but gave no details.

North Korea last year launched what it calls its first operational nuclear attack submarine, which analysts say appears to be a modification of existing submarines and is likely designed to carry ballistic and cruise missiles.

Leader Kim said at the time his country would accelerate the nuclear-powered submarine development program.