SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Monday it fired two cruise missiles from a submarine off the east coast, the latest in the country’s series of weapons tests.
Sunday’s test came a day before the US and South Korean militaries began large-scale joint military exercises that North Korea views as rehearsal for an invasion.
Korea’s official Central News Agency said Monday that the missile launches were intended to confirm the reliability of the weapons system and gauge the offensive operations of the country’s submarine units. The missile tests demonstrate the North’s determination to respond with “overwhelmingly powerful forces” to “the US imperialists and South Korean puppet forces”, who, according to the news agency, are “increasingly revealing in their anti-(North Korean) military maneuvers.” .”
North Korea has worked hard for years to acquire the ability to fire nuclear-armed missiles from submarines, the next key piece in an arsenal that includes a variety of weapons with the potential range to reach the US mainland.
Earlier on Monday, the South Korean military said it had detected a submarine launch in waters near the eastern port city of Sinpo in the north on Sunday.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said South Korean and US intelligence agencies were analyzing details of the operation.
