North Korea says Kim supervised new cruise missile tests
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of a new cruise missile meant to be launched from submarines, state media reported Monday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Monday that Kim oversaw the test fire of "Pulhwasal-3-31,” which the report described as a “submarine-launched strategic cruise missile.” The development comes one day after South Korea’s military said North Korea fired several cruise missiles near the country’s eastern coast.
The launches are the latest demonstration of weapons testing by North Korea in recent weeks as tensions continue to rise with South Korea, the United States and Japan. KCNA said Kim “expressed great satisfaction” with the most recent tests, which is a part of Kim’s goal of developing a nuclear-powered navy.
KCNA and other state media reports suggested two missiles were launched Sunday, according to The Associated Press, which added that North Korea’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun published photos of the two missile launches that showed the missiles breaking the surface of the water at 45-degree angles.
KCNA’s report said Kim said that there was a need to address the “prevailing situation and future threats.”
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said South Korea and the U.S. were looking into the recent launches.