North Korea says it test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles

North Korean state media said the country test-fired submarine-launched cruise missiles on Wednesday. Deutsche Welle (DW), France 24 and Reuters all reported the state media account. State media described the missiles as "strategic".

According to state media, as reported by France 24 and Reuters, two types of missiles were tested. State media said the tests took place in waters off the Korean peninsula's east coast, the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to DW and France 24.

State media said the tests were meant to check the readiness of underwater combat systems and the navy's capabilities. It said they also tested the reliability of the country's war deterrents.

All three outlets base the core account only on North Korean state media. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi include no independent confirmation of the launches.

What is reported

According to DW, the state media report did not say whether the missiles were launched from an actual submarine or from an underwater test platform. DW wrote that the "strategic" label implies an intent to arm the missiles with nuclear warheads. DW also reported that North Korea is not yet believed to have put a modern missile submarine into full operation.

According to France 24, photos released by the state news agency KCNA appeared to show one missile rising vertically out of the sea and another projectile emerging at about a 45-degree angle. They also appeared to show a missile flying horizontally over the sea and a submarine on the surface. France 24 reported that North Korea's sea-based launch capabilities remain unclear, despite several submarine missile launches in recent years.

France 24 reported that North Korea carried out multiple ballistic missile tests in October, most recently on Monday. It also reported that South Korea test-fired its first homegrown hypersonic missile last week. Tensions between the two Koreas rose after a landmine explosion on 21 September injured three South Korean soldiers in the Seoul-controlled area of the Demilitarised Zone, according to France 24.

According to DW, US President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that he might meet Kim Jong Un during a trip to Asia next month.

What each side says

KCNA said the launches did not have "any adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries", according to France 24. KCNA said the tests "aimed to examine the current mobilized posture of the underwater combat systems". It said they showed the "high reliability, trustworthiness and ability of the war deterrents of the DPRK".

Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification told AFP that launching at two different angles has "tactical significance", France 24 reported. "Angled launches, on the other hand, allow missiles to fly at lower altitudes from the outset, making them harder for missile defence systems to detect and intercept," he said.

What the reports do not include

The reports do not include reactions or independent assessments from South Korean, Japanese or US authorities. They do not say how many missiles were fired, how far they flew, or whether they hit their targets. They do not say whether Kim Jong Un attended the tests.

Analysis

The account rests on a single origin: North Korean state media. Without independent confirmation, key details remain open, including the launch platform and the missiles' range and performance. If the missiles were fired from an operational submarine, that could point to progress in sea-based launch capability. A test platform would suggest a less advanced stage. The tests come amid reported missile activity on both sides of the peninsula and reported talk of a possible Trump-Kim meeting. These developments could shape diplomacy in different ways. Assessments from Seoul, Tokyo or Washington, if they are released, may clarify what the launches show.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.