North Korea Fires Another Fourth Cruise Missile

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

JAKARTA - North Korea has again fired a number of cruise missiles off the west coast marking North Korea's fourth cruise missile launch this year.

South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected North Korea's missile launch at 11.00 local time. However, the number of missiles fired was not stated.

"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military has coordinated closely with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korea's provocation," said JCS as quoted by ANTARA from Yonhap, Friday, February 2.

The South Korean news agency reported a cruise missile launch this Friday, occurring just three days later or to be precise Tuesday (30/1) after North Korea fired an Hwasal-2 cruise missile off the west coast.

On January 24, North Korea conducted a test of a new strategic cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead named Pulhwasal-3-31, for the first time. Then on Sunday (28/1), North Korea fired a cruise missile launched by a submarine off the east coast, then confirmed the missile was Pulhwasal-3-31s.

Hwasal means 'panah' in Korean and Pulhwasal means 'flood'. The cruise missile driven by the jet engine, flies low and maneuvers, making it more difficult to detect and intercept.

The cruise missile is also considered to add to the threat to South Korea's air defense system at a time when North Korea is increasing the capability of ballistic missiles with varying range, warheads, and launch platforms.

Experts say the submarine-launched cruise missile such as Pulhwasal could pose a serious threat to South Korea's air defense system if perfected. This is because the missile is more difficult to detect and shoot down due to its low flight altitude and has precision attack capabilities.