DPRK launches two strategic cruise missiles for the first time
The DPRK has launched two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine located off the country's east coast in the Sea of Japan.
According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, this was reported by North Korea's state media.
The launches took place early on Sunday morning. As far as is known, this is the first time that the DPRK has launched from a submarine.
The DPRK claims that the exercise "confirmed the reliability of the system and explored the offensive capabilities of the submarine units, which are one of the DPRK's nuclear deterrent forces." The missiles allegedly hit designated targets in the Sea of Japan.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier reported that it had detected the launch of unidentified missiles from a submarine off the DPRK coast, and after the KCNA state media published this information, an official from the committee said that there were some differences between what was stated about the specifics of the missiles and what was recorded by South Korea and the United States.
According to this source, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, the DPRK launches look like early-stage tests.
The tests appear to be a show of force ahead of joint exercises between South Korea and the United States that begin on Monday and will last 11 days. The DPRK sees this as preparation for an aggressive war against it.
Author - Olena Madiak, 13/03/2023
