North Korea Successfully Conducts New Long Range Cruise Missile Test, Hits Target 1,500 Kilometers

North Korean flag illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/John Pavelka)

JAKARTA - North Korea conducted a successful long-range cruise missile test over the weekend, state media, KCNA, said Monday, amid a protracted standoff with the United States over denuclearization.

The missiles were capable of flying 1,500 km (930 miles), before hitting their targets and falling into the country's territorial waters during tests held on Saturday and Sunday, KCNA said.

"The missile development gives strategic significance to having other effective means of deterrence to ensure the security of our country and strongly restrain the military maneuvers of enemy forces," KCNA said, citing Reuters Monday, September 13.

The reclusive North Korea has long accused the United States and South Korea of "hostile policies" towards Pyongyang.

The firing test was witnessed by a number of key North Korean officials, including Mr. Jong Chon, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Secretary of the Party Central Committee, as well as Kim Jong Sik and Jon Il Ho, Deputy Department Director of the Party Central Committee.

With the authorization of the Party Central Committee, Pak Jong Chon extends his warmest congratulations and thanks, to the national defense scientists and munitions workers who have successfully developed long-range cruise missiles.

"This success is a brilliant fruit produced by the Party's policy of attaching importance to national defense science and technology and the important success achieved by those in the field of national defense who have actually implemented the decisions of the Eighth Party Congress," he quoted KCNA as saying.

"This is another great demonstration of the limitless capabilities of the DPRK's national defense science and technology and ammunition industry," he added.

He stressed that the field of national defense science should work harder to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, war deterrence and achieve continued success in achieving the grand and prospective goals of war deterrence presented by the Eighth Party Congress.