On Monday, December 29, it became known that North Korea conducted a test launch of two long-range strategic cruise missiles. The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, oversaw the launch, which was directed towards the Yellow Sea, located to the west of the Korean Peninsula. This information was reported by the news agencies "Yonhap" and AFP, as noted by DW.
According to the North Korean agency KCNA, the missiles flew along the designated trajectory for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds, after which they successfully hit their designated targets.
The launch took place from the vicinity of Pyongyang.
According to clarification from Seoul, the missiles were launched from the Sunan area, located near Pyongyang.
Earlier, in early November, North Korea conducted tests of ballistic missiles. This occurred about a week after U.S. President Donald Trump, while in the region, expressed a desire to meet with Kim Jong Un, to which Pyongyang did not respond.
In October, Donald Trump announced plans for the U.S. to build a nuclear submarine for South Korea during his visit to Seoul. "Our military alliance is now stronger than ever. I have authorized the construction of a nuclear submarine instead of the outdated diesel submarines they have," Trump wrote on the social network TruthSocial on October 29.
Meanwhile, on December 25, The New York Times reported that North Korea presented photographs of its first submarine with a nuclear power plant.
Experts warn that both Koreas are actively participating in an arms race, and other countries in Northeast Asia are increasing their defense budgets. "We are already in an arms race. Among U.S. allies in the region, there is growing concern about American security commitments," noted Andrei Lankov, a professor of history and international relations at Kunkmin University in Seoul, in an interview with DW.
