NKorea tests missiles with ‘super-large’ warheads
SEOUL: North Korea said it had tested cruise missiles outfitted with new “super-large” warheads, as well as a new type of anti-aircraft missile, extending a streak in weapons demonstrations that has its southern neighbor worried.
The report by North Korean state media on Saturday came a day after South Korea’s military said it had detected Pyongyang launching multiple cruise missiles into waters off its western coast. It’s the isolated country’s fourth round of launches of such weapons in 2024.
North Korean photos of the test showed a low-flying cruise missile striking a target built on a coastal shore, and another projectile soaring into the air after being launched from the ground.
In announcing the development of larger warheads for cruise missiles, North Korea could be trying to emphasize that these missiles are intended to be armed with nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not specify the number of missiles tested or the details of their performance, but it said the tests were part of the country’s “normal activities” for military development and did not affect the security of neighbors.
Cruise missiles are among a growing collection of North Korean weapons designed to overwhelm regional missile defenses. They supplement the country’s vast lineup of ballistic missiles, including longrange weapons aimed at the continental United States.
Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is an area where North Korea could benefit from its deepening military cooperation with Russia, as the two countries align in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with Washington.
In January, North Korea conducted two tests of a new cruise missile designed to be launched from submarines, which leader Kim Jong Un described as a meaningful step toward his goals of building a nuclear-armed navy.
Pyongyang also conducted tests of a long-range cruise missile, which it has described as nuclearcapable and can cover ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) — potentially putting US military bases in Japan within reach.
Those cruise missile tests followed the January 14 launch of a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which underscored North Korean efforts to advance weapons that could target US assets in the Pacific, including the island of Guam.
Friday’s launches came hours after North Korean state media reported that Kim reiterated his focus on strengthening his naval forces as he inspected the construction of warships at a shipyard in Nampho on the west coast.
In recent months, Kim has emphasized efforts to build a nucleararmed navy to counter what he portrays as growing threats posed by the US, South Korea and Japan, which have stepped up their military cooperation in response to his nuclear ambitions.
There are concerns that Kim, emboldened by the steady advancement of his nuclear arsenal and strengthened ties with Russia, would further ramp up pressure against his rivals in an election year in the US and South Korea.