Two strategic cruise missiles, three anti-ship missiles test-fired
State media says strikes hit targets with ultra-precise accuracy
North Korea test-fired strategic cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles from the new 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyun-ho on the 12th, state media reported, with Chairman Kim Jong Un in attendance.
The Rodong Sinmun said on the 14th that, within the ship’s operational-evaluation test system, another test launch of strategic cruise and anti-ship missiles was conducted on the 12th.
The destroyer Choe Hyun-ho launched two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles during the test.
Last month, Kim visited the Choe Hyun-ho on the 3rd and 4th ahead of its commissioning to observe a ship-to-shore strategic cruise-missile test. On the 10th he remotely observed another cruise-missile test from the ship, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae. The vessel was launched in April of last year.
The newspaper said the exercise inspected the ship’s integrated weapons command and launch-control systems, trained marines in missile-fire procedures, and verified the accuracy and target-engagement performance of an upgraded active anti-jamming navigation system.
According to the report, the strategic cruise missiles flew along a preset trajectory over the Yellow Sea for 7,869–7,920 seconds (2 hours, 11 minutes, 9 seconds to 2 hours, 12 minutes). The anti-ship missiles flew for 1,960–1,973 seconds (32 minutes, 40 seconds to 32 minutes, 53 seconds).
The paper said the weapons struck their targets with ultra-precise accuracy.
Kim expressed satisfaction, saying recent advances in defense science have qualitatively strengthened the military’s readiness for strategic operations.
He also reaffirmed a policy to modernize the country’s nuclear forces, stressing that continuously and without limit expanding and strengthening a strong, credible nuclear deterrent is the party’s unchanging national defense line and its most urgent priority.
The Rodong Sinmun said Kim outlined key tasks to further bolster the strategic and tactical strike capabilities that form the backbone of nuclear deterrence, enhance rapid-response readiness, and refine those capabilities.
The report added that Kim reviewed proposals for the weapons systems to be installed on the planned third and fourth destroyers and reached “important conclusions,” though it did not disclose specifics.
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