North Korea conducted successful cruise missile tests last weekend, state news agency KCNA reports. The long-range missiles flew 1,500 kilometers before hitting targets and landing in the country’s territorial waters during tests held Saturday and Sunday.
The development of the missiles presents “the strategic importance of having another effective deterrent to more reliably guarantee the security of our state and strongly restrict the military maneuvers of the enemy forces,” the state news agency said. Pyongyang has long accused the US and South Korea of ”hostile policies” towards the country.
Conversations are silent
In March of this year, North Korea also tests with a new type of ballistic missiles, after a break of more than a year. The US condemned doing so as a “destabilizing” action. Last month it turned out that the country had also resumed activities in the country’s main nuclear reactor, a step that could indicate the production of nuclear weapons.
The US is deeply concerned about the weapons programs of the North Koreans, which have tested missiles that can reach parts of the US mainland. Former US President Donald Trump himself spoke about this repeatedly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who in turn wants the heavy sanctions against his regime to be lifted. The consultations did not lead to a breakthrough, the talks have been at a standstill since 2019.
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