North Korea Test-Fires Strategic Cruise Missile

North Korea announced Wednesday that it successfully tested a strategic cruise missile, one of many recently launched weapons that specialists say might be used in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Seoul’s military originally reported the launch, claiming to have spotted numerous cruise missiles.

According to the KCNA, the drill was designed to test the army’s rapid counterattack posture as well as improve its strategic striking capability.

It went on to say that the launch had no adverse effect on the security of bordering countries.

Pyongyang tested an underwater nuclear weapon system this month, as well as a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile, and a new generation of strategic cruise missiles.

North Korea has previously tested its Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missile.

Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are not banned by current UN sanctions on Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles are jet-propelled and fly at lower altitudes than more advanced ballistic missiles, making them more difficult to detect and intercept.

Despite UN sanctions, Seoul and Washington allege that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has been sending weapons to Russia, presumably in exchange for Moscow’s technical assistance in Pyongyang’s fledgling spy satellite programme.

The test launch comes as ties between the two Koreas have deteriorated dramatically, with Kim naming Seoul his principal enemy.

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