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North Korea has fired two strategic cruise missiles in what would be the latest launches by the isolated nation in the region. The launches coincided with the start of the joint military drills being carried out by the United States and South Korea.
North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported on Sunday that Pyongyang fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine as the US and South Korea's joint drills were set to begin. The outlet’s referring to the cruise missiles as “strategic” means the weapons have nuclear capabilities. KCNA said the launch reaffirmed the system’s reliability and tested the underwater offensive operations of the submarine units that are part of the isolated nation’s nuclear deterrent.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military was on alert, and the South Korean intelligence agency was working with its Washington counterpart to look into the details of the launch. The launch came ahead of the joint drills by the US and South Korean troops that will take place for 11 days starting Monday, referred to as “Freedom Shield 23” on a scale not seen since 2017.
The US and South Korean militaries said the joint drills aim to strengthen the allies combined defensive stance. The joint exercises will also include field exercises such as amphibious landings.
Pyongyang has long accused the two allies of preparing for an invasion with their joint military drills. North Korea has also conducted a record number of missile launches and drills in the past year in what Pyongyang refers to as an effort to boost its nuclear deterrent and make its weapons fully operational.
“It’s very regretful that North Korea is using our regular defensive drills as a pretext for provocation,” said South Korean unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam. “I hope North Korea realizes that there is nothing they can earn from escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was also overseeing a series of missile tests that simulated destroying an enemy airport Friday last week, according to state media. KCNA said that a unit trained for “strike missions” fired a “powerful volley at the targeted waters” and demonstrated its capability to “counter an actual war.”
Analysts say that North Korea is likely going to ramp up its missile launches as the joint US-South Korea drills continue.
