North Korea announced on Thursday that it successfully tested a new cruise missile, which it described as a “strategic weapon of great significance”.
The missile, named Pulhwasal-3-31, reportedly flew for more than two hours and covered a distance of over 1,500 kilometers, demonstrating its ability to strike targets in South Korea, Japan, and beyond.
The test conducted on Wednesday is the latest in a series of provocative actions by the North, as it seeks to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities and pressure the United States and its allies to resume negotiations.
According to their state media, KCNA, the new cruise missile can carry nuclear warheads and evade missile defenses. It is said to have “low-altitude gliding and leaping flight mode” and “high maneuverability and accuracy”. It is also said to have “a powerful warhead with a large explosive yield”.
Furthermore, South Korea’s military said the test was not detected until Wednesday, when they observed the North firing several cruise missiles into waters off its western coast.
