North Korea's Surprise Launch of Cruise Missiles This Time (Comprehensive)

Possibility of Strategic Cruise Missile Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 Types

In the early morning of the 2nd, North Korea launched several cruise missiles in a surprise attack over the West Sea. This missile provocation by North Korea came just three days after firing two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea from the Sunan area in Pyongyang on the 30th of last month, and two days after the conclusion of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)'.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 2nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military detected several cruise missiles launched by North Korea over the West Sea starting around 4 a.m. today," adding, "The South Korea-U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of the specifications."

The cruise missiles launched on this day are likely to be the strategic cruise missiles Hwasal-1 or Hwasal-2, which North Korea claims can be equipped with tactical nuclear warheads called 'Hwasan-31.' If these missiles are indeed Hwasal-1 or Hwasal-2, it is presumed that North Korea intended to demonstrate its actual nuclear attack capability by launching cruise missiles capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads, targeting the entire Korean Peninsula and U.S. forces stationed in Japan. Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes and can change their trajectory, making detection, tracking, and interception difficult.

North Korea previously claimed to have launched 'strategic cruise missiles' using patrol ships near the waters off Wonsan, Gangwon Province, between the 14th and 18th of last month; however, the Joint Chiefs of Staff refuted this, stating that the missiles were short-range, general-purpose anti-ship cruise missiles.

North Korean state media such as the Korean Central News Agency and Korean Central Television have not yet mentioned the cruise missiles launched this time.

This provocation may be a reaction to the recently concluded South Korea-U.S. joint UFS exercise on the 31st of last month or a response to the newly established Drone Strategic Command launched the day before to operate unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the surprise early morning provocation appears intended to increase fatigue within our military, test response readiness, and, ahead of North Korea's regime founding day on the 9th, to promote internal unity through a show of military strength. There are concerns about further provocations in the coming week.

A military official said, "We have strengthened surveillance and vigilance, are closely cooperating with the U.S., maintaining full readiness, and are monitoring North Korea's additional signs and activities."

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