North Korea tested firing cruise missiles on Feb 2 – KCNA
A missile is launched, as the state media report North Korea tested its new land-to-air cruise missiles off its west coast, North Korea, January 2, 2024. KCNA via REUTERS
SEOUL — North Korea tested its cruise missiles as well as new land-to-air missiles off its west coast on February 2, state media reported on Saturday, confirming a barrage of launches for weapons it said are aimed at enhancing defense capabilities.
The launch on Friday marked the fourth time in just over a week that Pyongyang has launched such missiles.
“These tests are part of the normal activities of the General Directorate and the Agency for Defense Development under its jurisdiction to advance the technology of new weapon systems in various aspects such as their function, performance, and operation, and are unrelated to the regional situation,” the KCNA said.
The KCNA usually comments on their missile tests about a day after the launch takes place.
South Korea’s military said last week that North Korea fired several cruise missiles from waters off an eastern military port.
READ: South Korea: North Korea fires cruise missiles in provocative tests
The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t immediately say how many missiles were fired or how far they flew.
A combination picture shows a missile launch, as the state media report North Korea tested its new land-to-air cruise missiles off its west coast, North Korea, January 2, 2024. KCNA via REUTERS
But it was North Korea’s third-known launch event of 2024, following a previous round of cruise missile tests on January 24 and a January 14 test-firing of the country’s first solid-fuel intermediate range ballistic missile.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased in recent months as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to accelerate his weapons development and issue provocative threats of nuclear conflict with the US and its Asian allies.
The US, South Korea, and Japan in response have been expanding their combined military exercises, which Kim portrays as invasion rehearsals, and sharpening their deterrence strategies built around nuclear-capable US assets.
