North Korea's 'Tactical Nuclear Attack Submarine' Conducts First Weapons Test... Why Was Military Silent?

[Anchor]

Let's discuss North Korea further with reporter Kim A-young.

Reporter Kim, North Korea announced that it fired missiles two days ago on October 14, correct?

[Reporter]

Just a day later, North Korea announced that it test-fired two types of what it called submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the East Sea two days ago.

The photo you are looking at shows the launch scene.

One can be seen soaring vertically, while the other rises diagonally. The military assessed that they were fired from a vertical launch tube and a torpedo tube, respectively.

If you look at another photo, the outline of a submarine is visible.

Experts analyzed it to be the shape of the Hero Kim Kun Ok, which held its launching ceremony in September 2023.

The Hero Kim Kun Ok is a 3,000-ton diesel submarine that North Korea refers to as a tactical nuclear attack submarine.

This is interpreted as an intention to demonstrate that it has acquired the capability to conduct covert attacks equipped with nuclear warheads.

Mixing different launch methods was likely intended to show that it can make interception more difficult.

North Korea announced that it inspected its routine and regular mobilization posture, meaning it checked whether it could immediately enter operations once an order is issued.

This is interpreted as an effort to emphasize that it has secured operational deployment capabilities beyond the development and testing stage.

[Anchor]

However, our military authorities made no announcement two days ago, did they?

[Reporter]

While there is no strict rule dictating it must do so, the military typically tends to share information promptly when North Korea launches ballistic missiles.

A ballistic missile launch by North Korea is also an act prohibited under UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.

In contrast, this time, cruise missiles were fired from a submarine.

While ballistic missiles generally ascend to high altitudes along a parabolic trajectory before descending at high speed, cruise missiles fly at relatively low altitudes.

Because they fly low, radar detection can be comparatively difficult, but the military explained that it had been tracking related movements in advance.

[Jang Doyoung / Spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "We continuously tracked and monitored North Korean cruise missile movements using various assets from pre-launch, during cruising, and up to the terminal stage."]

In addition, flight tracking websites confirmed that U.S. high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and other assets flew primarily around the East Sea yesterday (October 15).

Video by Kim Jun-hee

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