North Korea tested two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine on Sunday, state news agency KCNA reported on Monday, when military exercises between the United States and South Korea are expected to begin.
“Strategic” is often used to describe nuclear weapons.
KCNA said the launch confirmed the system’s reliability and tested the submarine offensive operations of the submarine units that are part of North Korea’s nuclear deterrent.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the military was on high alert and the country’s intelligence agency was working with its US counterpart to review the details of the launch.
On Monday, South Korean and US troops were due to begin 11 days of joint exercises, dubbed “Freedom Shield 23,” which will be held on a scale not seen since 2017.
The exercises will strengthen the Allies’ combined defensive position, the two militaries said, and will feature field exercises.
North Korea has long resented drills it sees as a test run for invasion. It conducted a record number of missile tests and exercises last year in what it says are an effort to increase its nuclear deterrence and make more weapons fully operational.
“It is very regrettable that North Korea is using our regular defensive drills as a pretext for provocations,” said Koo Byoung-sam, a spokesman for South Korea’s unification ministry which handles relations with the North. “I hope North Korea realizes there is nothing they can gain from escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.”
Source: Terra
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