26-1-2025 (SEOUL) North Korea has executed a strategic cruise missile test on Saturday, marking another significant development in the nation’s military capabilities, as tensions continue to simmer in the Korean Peninsula.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the test launch of what state officials described as an “important weapon system”. The underwater-to-surface cruise missiles demonstrated remarkable endurance, maintaining flight paths for approximately two hours whilst covering an impressive distance of 1,500 kilometres before successfully striking their designated targets.
The demonstration comes amid escalating rhetoric from Pyongyang, with the North Korean Foreign Ministry issuing a stern warning of “toughest counteraction” against the United States. The ministry specifically criticised the ongoing military partnership between Washington and Seoul, pointing to joint military exercises as a primary source of regional instability.
This latest show of force arrives just days after former US President Donald Trump’s revelation that he would seek to re-engage with Kim Jong Un, following their previous diplomatic exchanges during his administration. However, North Korea appears steadfast in its military advancement, with Kim emphasising the continuous refinement of the nation’s war deterrence capabilities.
Speaking after the test, Kim stressed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s commitment to maintaining regional stability through military strength. “Our nation will ceaselessly strive to fulfil its crucial mission of safeguarding lasting peace through the development of superior military capabilities,” the leader stated according to official sources.
South Korean military officials confirmed the launch, reporting multiple cruise missiles were fired from inland locations towards the western coastal waters at approximately 4pm local time. The test follows North Korea’s recent successful trial of an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile earlier this month, highlighting the country’s persistent focus on expanding its military arsenal.
