North Korea Launches Four Strategic Cruise Missiles Yesterday

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu, Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea announced on the 24th that it conducted a strategic cruise missile "Hwasal-2" type launch training into the East Sea in the early morning of the 23rd around Kimchaek City, North Hamgyong Province.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the training involved the firepower unit of the Strategic Cruise Missile Unit of the People's Army Eastern District, while other units conducted fire service training in tunnel fortifications without live firing.

The Central News Agency reported that the four launched strategic cruise missiles "flew elliptical and '8'-shaped flight trajectories simulating a distance of 2,000 km set in the East Sea for 12,080 to 12,240 seconds and hit the targets accurately." It added, "Through the launch training, the reliability of the weapon system was reconfirmed, and the rapid response posture of the strategic cruise missile units, which are an important component of the Republic's nuclear deterrent force, was inspected and evaluated." It self-assessed that "the launch training successfully achieved its purpose."

Furthermore, the agency stated that the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party expressed "great satisfaction" with the launch training results and declared, "The Republic's nuclear combat forces' wartime posture, which is strengthening the deadly nuclear counterattack capability against hostile forces in every way, was once again clearly demonstrated."

North Korea's strategic cruise missile launch training is analyzed as a response to the South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence operational means exercise (DSC TTX). On the 22nd (local time), South Korea and the U.S. conducted the 8th DSC TTX at the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters.

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