North Korea announced the testing of cruise missiles “equipped with new, large-sized warheads,” in addition to a new type of anti-aircraft missiles, which increases the pace of tests that have raised concerns in South Korea.
The report, which was published by North Korean official media yesterday, came a day after the South Korean army announced that it had discovered Pyongyang launching a number of cruise missiles off its western coast.
This is the fourth round of missile launches since the beginning of 2024. North Korean images showed a cruise missile flying at a low altitude and bombing a target built on the beach, and another missile was shown flying in the air after being launched from the ground.
Nuclear wave
By announcing the development of larger warheads for cruise missiles, North Korea may be trying to emphasize that these missiles are ultimately intended to carry nuclear warheads. The official Korean Central News Agency did not specify the number of missiles launched or the range they reached. The agency said that the tests are part of “normal activities for military development” and do not affect the security of neighboring countries.
Cruise missiles are among North Korea’s array of weapons designed to overcome regional missile defenses, and complement the country’s large stockpile of ballistic missiles, including long-range missiles targeting the United States.
Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is “an area where North Korea could benefit from its military cooperation with Russia,” as the two countries line up in their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States.
There are fears in the West that North Korean President Kim Jong Un, encouraged by steady progress in his nuclear arsenal and strengthening relations with Russia, will intensify pressure on his rivals in a year that witnesses presidential elections in the United States and legislative elections in South Korea.
Experts say Kim’s long-term goal is to force the United States to accept the idea of Pyongyang being a nuclear state, negotiate security concessions, and ease sanctions “from a position of strength.”
While most analysts downplay Kim’s war threats, some say there is a possibility that the Korean leader may attempt a direct military provocation on a limited scale that can be contained without allowing it to escalate into an all-out war.
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2024-02-03 22:06:13
