[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korea's Cruise Missile Launch... Why?

Medium-range cruise missile showcased by North Korea at the military parade

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been reported that North Korea fired two cruise missiles. Cruise missiles are difficult to intercept and, unlike ballistic missiles, do not violate the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) or United Nations Security Council resolutions, so North Korea is expected to continue test launches for developing long-range cruise missiles.

Government sources stated on the 24th, "North Korea fired two cruise missiles over the West Sea at a short range last Sunday," adding, "It is hard to consider them as short-range missiles."

Cruise missiles fly slower than ballistic missiles but have superior accuracy and fly at low altitudes, making detection and interception difficult. In particular, the cruise missiles developed by North Korea weigh less than 500 kg and have a maximum range of less than 300 km, so unlike ballistic missiles, they do not violate the MTCR or UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea also unveiled medium- to long-range ground-to-ground cruise missiles during the January military parade. Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, stated in his report at the 8th Party Congress that "by continuously developing advanced nuclear tactical weapons, including medium- to long-range cruise missiles, we have secured a reliable military technological advantage."

North Korea's anti-ship cruise missiles are similar in body to Russia's Kh-35 (Uran) anti-ship missile. The Kh-35 is 3.85 meters long, weighs 480 kg (warhead weight 145 kg), has a diameter of 42 cm, and flies at Mach 0.8. The ground-to-ship cruise missile is known to have a range of about 200 km.

Military authorities assess that North Korea's ground- and ship-launched anti-ship missiles pose a threat to U.S. naval forces reinforced to the Korean Peninsula in case of emergency, as well as to naval vessels operating south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East and West Seas during peacetime.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense Forum (KODEF), said, "The missiles fired by North Korea are likely an improved version of the cruise missiles not revealed at the January military parade," adding, "Since Chairman Kim Jong-un did not attend and North Korean state media did not report it, it appears to be a test launch."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.