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By Micah McCartney
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North Korea announced Monday it had fired a pair of long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea the previous day.
Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the exercise, emphasized the need to test the country’s nuclear deterrent amid what he described as growing threats to its security, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the North Korean embassy in China via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
The country is believed to be steadily expanding its United Nations-sanctioned ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Analysts often interpret test launches as signals—either of Kim’s dissatisfaction or of a test of Washington’s resolve.
These launches remain a major source of tension with U.S.-allied South Korea. Kim has insisted the tests are defensive, citing joint military exercises and other cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
What To Know
The cruise missiles followed their predetermined flight path over the Yellow Sea, known in the Koreas as the West Sea, for 10,199 and 10,203 seconds before striking their target.
"The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction, saying that the result of the launching drill is a practical verification and clear demonstration of the absolute reliability and combat readiness of our strategic counterattack capability," KCNA wrote.
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Kim reportedly stated that the government would devote all its efforts to the ongoing development of a “nuclear combat force.”
The KCNA report comes on the heels of the December 24 launch of a long-range missile, which was followed the next day by Kim’s visit to the construction site of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine.
In recent years, Pyongyang has tested a range of increasingly advanced weapons, including solid-fueled missiles, highly maneuverable hypersonic reentry vehicles, nuclear-capable warheads, and intercontinental ballistic missiles with extended range.
While many analysts believe the regime still faces technical hurdles in some areas, such as guidance precision, they also note steady advances. U.S. intelligence officials believe Kim has prioritized modernizing his missile force and could pose a threat to U.S. and allied forces.
Analysts have also raised concerns that Pyongyang is receiving technological assistance on its missile programs from Russia, possibly in exchange for North Korean contributions of munitions and troops to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
What People Are Saying
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said on X: "North Korea's act of revealing its intent to strengthen its nuclear capabilities by launching cruise missiles in succession on December 28, following the December 25 statement issued in the name of the spokesperson for its Ministry of National Defense and the public disclosure of the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, is an action that undermines peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
The ministry said in a separate X post: "North Korea must respond to our government's efforts to resume good-faith dialogue for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and join in maintaining a stable situation on the Korean Peninsula."
What Happens Next
The missile launches come as North Korea is believed to be preparing for its Ninth People's Congress, which may be held in the coming weeks. During the gathering, Kim and other senior leaders are expected to approve new five-year plans for major economic and military targets.
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