North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had launched sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, showcasing its growing military prowess as U.S. President Donald Trump headed to South Korea for a regional summit. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of North Korea reported that the tests conducted on Tuesday were successful, with the missiles flying for over two hours and hitting targets accurately. KCNA stated that these weapons would enhance the operational range of the country’s nuclear-armed military.
According to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, the military had observed the launch preparations, and the cruise missiles were fired in North Korea’s northwest waters around 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday. They also mentioned that South Korea and the United States were jointly analyzing the weapons and maintaining a combined defense readiness to respond decisively to any provocations from North Korea.
The North Korean announcement coincided with an anticipated meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, where South Korea is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. The KCNA reported that senior military official Pak Jong Chon oversaw the tests and inspected sailor training on North Korea’s newly developed destroyers Choe Hyon and Kang Kon, which Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has highlighted as crucial assets in strengthening the navy.
These missile launches followed recent tests of short-range ballistic missiles last week, which North Korea claimed involved a new hypersonic system aimed at bolstering its nuclear deterrent capabilities.
Although Trump has shown interest in meeting with Kim during his visit to South Korea, where he is also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean officials have indicated that a Trump-Kim meeting is unlikely. North Korea has refrained from engaging in any form of dialogue with Washington and Seoul since Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019.
Kim’s current foreign policy focus is on Russia, as he has deployed troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, positioning North Korea as part of a collective stance against the Western powers. Kim has reiterated that he will not resume talks with the United States unless Washington drops its demand for North Korea’s denuclearization, despite Trump expressing hopes for renewed diplomacy.
