- North Korea launched two missiles from a submarine in waters off its east coast over the weekend, according to state media.
- The missiles were launched from a “8.24 Yongung” submarine in the Sea of Japan on Sunday morning, and were identified as “strategic cruise missiles.”
- The launches occurred one day before the US and South Korea initiated their springtime joint military exercise on Monday, the biggest war games the two allies have put on in five years.
- North Korea has issued multiple warnings against the scheduled drill, vowing to take “the toughest counteraction” against the US and South Korea.
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korea fired at least one unidentified missile from a submarine near the port city of Sinpo in the South Hamgyong province.
- KCNA claimed the missiles flew for over an hour, traveling roughly 1,500 kilometers per hour and performing figure-of-eight shaped patterns before “precisely” hitting a target.
- The Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea expressed satisfaction after the drill.
- US and South Korean intelligence authorities are analyzing the incident.
- The launch occurred three days after North Korea fired at least six short-range missiles into the Yellow Sea.
- North Korea’s artillery units have been instructed to be prepared for two missions: “first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war, by steadily intensifying various simulated drills for real war.”
- US and South Korean air forces have also been conducting their own regular air exercises, including a recent flight of a US B-52 bomber escorted by South Korean fighter jets.
North Korea launches missiles from submarine as US-South Korean drills begin
