North Korea tests two submarine-launched missiles, state media reports

What the report says

North Korea says it has test-fired two submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in waters off its east coast, according to state media KCNA, in a move presented as part of efforts to strengthen war deterrence and improve naval capability. The tests were conducted on Wednesday and were observed by senior military officers, KCNA said. One of the missiles was identified as a Pulhwasal-3-31, the same type North Korea said it launched from land last week.

Al Jazeera, citing KCNA, reported that the missiles were launched to assess the reliability of North Korea’s deterrent systems and to train the navy for strategic missions. The state news agency also said the tests did not threaten neighbouring countries. North Korea is not known to have a fully operational modern missile submarine, though submarine weapons remain a key military priority for leader Kim Jong Un, who has overseen a broader push to expand strategic missile capabilities.

The launches come amid a recent surge in weapons testing by Pyongyang and rising tensions with South Korea. Earlier this week, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea, and it also tested a hypersonic intermediate-range missile on October 3, according to the report. The article adds that inter-Korean relations have worsened after incidents along the Demilitarized Zone and that diplomacy has remained stalled since nuclear talks collapsed in 2019.