North Korea announced testing of new cruise missile
Photo: North Korea announced the test of a new cruise missile (Getty Images)
North Korea has stated that yesterday, January 24, it conducted the first test launch of a new strategic cruise missile called Pulhwasal-3-31, according to Yonhap.
Military officials in South Korea have reported that North Korea launched several cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea, but no additional details, including the distance they traveled, were provided.
This marks the first known test launch of a cruise missile by North Korea since September of last year when the country fired two long-range cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea, carrying mock nuclear warheads. At that time, Pyongyang claimed the missiles traveled approximately 1,500 km.
It is noted that North Korea conducted its first test launches of the cruise missile Hwasal-1 in September 2021 and tested the Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 missiles last year, which are believed to be capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.
What preceded
Yesterday, it became known that North Korea once again launched several ballistic missiles towards the Yellow Sea. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea reported that the launch of the missile series by the North Korean army occurred around 7 a.m. local time.
It was also reported that on January 15, the missile administration of North Korea conducted tests of a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuverable guided warhead.
Additionally, on January 5, North Korea fired about 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands on the western border – Eocheongdo and Baengnyeongdo, forcing the evacuation of the island residents. Another 60 shells were fired the next day.
