The test-firing of strategic cruise missiles was conducted in North Korea under the observation of leader Kim Jong Un, reported North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 21, Monday.
The state media released an undated photo wherein Kim Jong Un can be seen observing the strategic cruise missile test while being onboard a navy warship. The date of the test firing was not mentioned. The navy fleet was stationed at the East coast.
KCNA reported that the missiles hit right on target.
Kim said that the ship will maintain high mobility along with powerful striking abilities ensuring combat preparedness in sudden situations.
The launch was conducted to attest the combat function of the ship and its missile system features. It was aimed at enhancing sailors’ competency in case of an actual mission in a war as per KCNA report.
The United States and South Korea have been conducting annual military drills involving thousands of troops and some member states of the U.N. Command. During the Trilateral summit at Camp David, President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida intended to increase military cooperation on their ballistic missile defenses to counter nuclear and missile threats and share real-time missile warning data on North Korea by the end of the year.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea’s report on its cruise missile tests was inconsistent and does not establish facts.
South Korean officials have said that these exercises are defensive in nature and they have no intention of attacking the North but will their military will retaliate immediately to any provocative actions by North Korea.
It has to be stated that South Korean lawmakers were predicting possible military action such as intercontinental ballistic missile test-fire from North Korea in order to protest against the Trilateral summit and military drills by the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibits North Korea’s ballistic missile launches but has not banned the cruise missile tests which fly at a lower altitude in order to avoid radar detection which may pose a threat.
North Korea views US-South Korean military drills as invasion rehearsals and responded with missile tests on the past. The security cooperation between US, Japan and South Korea is compelling it to reinforce its own military capability.
Kim Jong Un affirmed to modernize the navy by constructing all-powerful warships and underwater weapons systems while being onboard the navy ship. He wants to build an undefeatable military to fight against hostile actions from other nations like the United States. He also pointed out the nation’s sailors’ should focus on spiritual might and not just quantity or technical prowess of weapons, according to KCNA’s report.
North Korea has undertaken around 100 weapons test including weapons that may carry nuclear warheads since the beginning of the year 2022. It has attempted to launch a spy satellite in May this year to put into the orbit but the efforts were in vain. If reports from South Korea’s spy service are to be believed the North has been preparing for the launches of long-range missiles from a long time.
The leaders of US, Japan and South Korea have vowed to fight cyber-attacks from North Korea and block its cyber-enabled dodging of sanctions.
