North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had launched sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, showcasing its advancing military capabilities while U.S. President Donald Trump visited South Korea for a regional summit. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the tests conducted on Tuesday were successful, with the missiles flying for over two hours and hitting their intended targets accurately. KCNA stated that these weapons would enhance the reach of the country’s nuclear-armed military.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff confirmed detecting the launch preparations and reported that the cruise missiles were launched in North Korea’s northwestern waters at approximately 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday. They mentioned that South Korea and the United States were jointly analyzing the missiles and maintaining a high level of defense readiness to respond effectively to any provocations from North Korea.
The timing of North Korea’s report coincided with an anticipated summit between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, where South Korea is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. The KCNA noted that senior military official Pak Jong Chon oversaw the missile tests and also inspected training sessions for sailors on North Korea’s newly developed destroyers, Choe Hyon and Kang Kon, which are considered crucial assets in enhancing the country’s navy.
These recent missile launches by North Korea follow last week’s tests involving a new hypersonic system for strengthening its nuclear war deterrent capabilities. While Trump had shown interest in meeting Kim during his South Korea visit, South Korean officials have indicated that a Trump-Kim meeting is unlikely. North Korea has refrained from engaging in talks with Washington and Seoul since the breakdown of Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with Trump in 2019.
Kim’s current foreign policy focus is on Russia, as he has been actively supporting President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine by deploying troops and military equipment. Kim has embraced the concept of a “new Cold War” and positioned North Korea as a united front against the Western powers led by the U.S. In a recent statement, Kim reiterated that North Korea would not return to negotiations with the U.S. unless Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization, despite Trump expressing hopes for renewed diplomacy.