N. Korea test-fires cruise missiles before Trump’s visit to S. Korea
(MENAFN) North Korea reported on Wednesday that it had test-fired sea-to-surface cruise missiles over the Yellow Sea, days before US President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The missile test followed Trump’s expression of interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his South Korea visit from October 29-30. North Korea’s state media said the missiles, adapted for launches from ships, were fired vertically and remained in flight for more than 7,800 seconds along a designated path before striking their intended target. No further details on the missiles’ range were provided, and Kim did not personally observe the launch.
Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of North Korea’s Central Military Commission, emphasized the country’s progress in maintaining its nuclear forces at a “practical basis.” “It is an extension of exercising the war deterrent and an act of exercising it in a more responsible manner to continuously test the reliability of different strategic offensive means and impress their abilities upon the enemies,” he said. He added that North Korea must “ceaselessly toughen the nuclear combat posture” and continuously upgrade its combat capabilities.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was detected at 3 pm on Tuesday and that intelligence agencies from South Korea and the US were analyzing the details. “Our military is maintaining a full readiness posture to respond overwhelmingly to any North Korean provocation, while closely monitoring the North's various movements under the firm combined defense posture with the United States,” they said.
The launch comes as North Korea has remained silent regarding Trump’s proposal for talks, raising doubts about the likelihood of a meeting between the two leaders. This was the first North Korean cruise missile test in five months.
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