North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of submarine-launched cruise missiles and ordered officials to expedite the North’s nuclear submarine development, state media reported on Monday.
“In the morning of January 28, Kim Jong Un guided the test-fire of the newly-developed submarine-launched strategic cruise missile ‘Pulhwasal-3-31’,” said the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Sunday that it detected North Korea launching several cruise missiles around 8 a.m., near Sinpo, where the North’s submarine facilities are located.
Submarine-launched weapons can be deployed covertly, often evading detection systems, potentially offering Pyongyang a more elusive means of deploying its nuclear weapons.
“Nuclear weaponization of the navy is an urgent task of the times and a core requirement for building the state nuclear strategic force,” said Kim Jong Un, cited by KCNA.
Kim “set forth the important tasks arising in realizing the nuclear weaponization of the navy and expanding the sphere of operation of the state nuclear deterrence in a diversified way,” KCNA added.
The North Korean leader also defended the country’s ongoing nuclear development, claiming: “The prevailing situation and future threats urge the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] to put more spurs to the efforts for defending maritime sovereignty.”
Kim then called for “immediate tasks” and “state measures” to be executed by relevant sectors and officials to accelerate his country’s nuclear submarine manufacturing.
Although North Korea has yet to possess submarines capable of operating in the blue sea, or deep ocean, recent efforts may dramatically increase the level of nuclear threat to South Korea and Japan due to their geographical proximity.
North Korea has recently put a particular emphasis on boosting its naval capabilities. Earlier this month, North Korea claimed that it had carried out a test of the “Haeil-5-23,” its underwater nuclear system involving drones to face “threats” posed by allies.
South Korea, however, had dismissed Pyongyang’s claim.
"There is a possibility that North Korea's claims may have been exaggerated and fabricated, based on our comprehensive analysis up until today," South Korea's Presidential Office said in a statement last week.
Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.