North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firings of new cruise missiles designed to be launched from submarines and reviewed efforts to build a nuclear-powered submarine, according to state media reports on Monday. These developments highlight North Korea's goal of building a nuclear-armed navy to counter what it perceives as growing external threats. The test-firings come amidst increasing tensions with the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
The South Korean military announced on Sunday that it had detected North Korea firing multiple cruise missiles over waters near the eastern port of Sinpo, where the country has a major shipyard for submarine development. Photographs published by North Korea's state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, showed at least two missiles being fired separately, creating grayish-white clouds as they broke the water surface and soared at an angle of around 45 degrees. The missiles, identified as Pulhwasal-3-31, had been tested previously on land from the western coast of North Korea.
