North Korea said it has successfully tested a series of cruise missiles that can be fired from submarines, on Wednesday. The tests were carried out in waters to the East of the Korean peninsula to test the country’s underwater combat systems and to improve the capabilities of its navy.
The media in the respective states portrayed the newly tested arms as strategic, strongly suggesting that they will eventually be equipped with nuclear warheads. But officials did not say if the cruise missiles were fired from an active or test platform out of the sea.
Pyongyang has been making steady progress for the development of modern missile submarines as well as on ballistic and cruise missile programs. The North has carried out different types of weapons tests in the past few weeks to improve its military deterrence against the forces of the U.S. Department of Defense and South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense which are aligned with the United States. North Korea has not yet succeeded in launching a modern, full-featured missile submarine, however, as yet, international observers have not confirmed that one has been fully operational.
The new missile trials came two days after state media showed pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting a new military museum in an unspecified location. An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) believed to be capable of striking the United States was prominently displayed at the exhibition.
Kim has made it clear that building up his nation’s nuclear weapons is his top priority. Pyongyang has firmly eliminated the possibility of denuclearization, which has been long advocated by the US Department of State and international allies.
Diplomatic relations have also not come up. Relations between Kim and the White House have been quiet, with no recent meetings taking place. But U.S. President Donald Trump, who met with Kim three times during his first term, recently alluded to a trip to Asia next month, which could make another meeting possible.
In the meantime, however, inter-Korean relations have got very bad. North Korea has stopped any cooperation with South Korea. Pyongyang has officially eliminated any mention of peaceful reunification from its constitution in a landmark change from previous policies under the watch of Seoul’s Ministry of Unification.
