North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test of two long-range strategic cruise missiles that were launched towards the Yellow Sea, located to the west of the Korean Peninsula. This was reported on December 29 by news agencies such as Yonhap and AFP, citing data from the DW agency.
The missiles, as specified by the North Korean KCNA, flew along the designated trajectory for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds before successfully hitting their targets.
According to information from Seoul, the missile launches occurred in the Sunan area, located near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
Earlier, in early November, North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire to meet with Kim Jong Un during his visit to the region. However, Pyongyang did not respond to this proposal.
Additionally, in October, it became known about the United States' plans to build a nuclear submarine for South Korea. Trump announced this during his visit to Seoul, noting that "our military alliance has become stronger than ever." He also added that he had authorized the creation of the submarine to replace outdated diesel models currently in use.
Meanwhile, on December 25, The New York Times published information that North Korea had presented photographs of its first nuclear submarine.
Experts cautiously note that both Koreas are rapidly engaging in an arms race, while other countries in Northeast Asia are increasing their defense spending. Andrei Lankov, a professor of history and international relations at Kunming University, expressed in a conversation with DW that "the arms race has already begun," adding that concerns are growing among U.S. allies in the region regarding security guarantees from America.
