North Korea announced on Wednesday the successful launch of sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, showcasing its advancing military capabilities while U.S. President Donald Trump visits South Korea for a regional summit. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the missiles flew over two hours, hitting targets accurately. KCNA stated that these weapons would enhance the operational range of the country’s nuclear-equipped military forces.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff confirmed the launch preparations and stated that the cruise missiles were fired in North Korea’s northwest waters around 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Both South Korea and the United States are currently examining the weapons and maintaining a joint defense readiness to swiftly counter any potential provocations from North Korea.
The North Korean announcement coincided with an anticipated meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, where this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings are being held. The missile tests were reportedly overseen by senior military official Pak Jong Chon, who also supervised training for sailors on North Korea’s newly developed destroyers Choe Hyon and Kang Kon, which leader Kim Jong-un considers crucial assets for strengthening the navy.
These recent missile launches follow last week’s tests of short-range ballistic missiles, which North Korea claimed involved a new hypersonic system aimed at bolstering its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
While Trump has shown interest in meeting Kim during his South Korea visit and is scheduled to hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean officials have cast doubt on the likelihood of a Trump-Kim meeting. North Korea has refrained from engaging in talks with Washington and Seoul since the breakdown of Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with Trump in 2019.
Kim’s current foreign policy focus is shifting towards Russia, with recent actions including the deployment of troops and military resources to support President Vladimir Putin’s operations in Ukraine. Kim has emphasized the idea of a “new Cold War” and positioned North Korea as part of a united front against the Western-led by the U.S.
In a recent statement, Kim reiterated that North Korea would not engage in discussions with the United States unless Washington abandons its demands for denuclearization, despite Trump’s expressed hopes for renewed diplomacy.