North Korea said Monday it tested submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles the previous day, with leader Kim Jong Un observing the test and discussing issues related to the building of a nuclear-powered submarine, according to state-run media.
Kim guided the test-firings of "Pulhwasal-3-31" missiles together with senior navy and ruling Workers' Party of Korea officials Sunday morning, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
The move came after Pyongyang tested the new cruise missile, meaning "flaming arrow" in Korean and believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, last Wednesday for the first time.
On Sunday, the cruise missiles flew above the Sea of Japan for 2 hours, 3 minutes and 41 seconds and 2 hours, 4 minutes and 5 seconds, respectively, before hitting an island target, the report said. The South Korean military detected the launches off the North Korean port city of Shinpo on the eastern coast around 8:00 a.m.
Kim "expressed great satisfaction" with the results, KCNA said, adding the test had no impact on the security of neighboring countries and nothing to do with the regional situation. The news agency did not provide details such as the launch site.
The leader stressed that giving the navy nuclear weapon capabilities is "urgent" for his country and set forth important steps toward "expanding the sphere of operation of the state nuclear deterrence in a diversified way," KCNA said.
As for the building of a nuclear-powered submarine and other new-type warships, Kim directed tasks to be completed and made conclusions on how to implement them, the news agency said without elaborating.
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