North Korea said Wednesday it test-fired several sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, a show of military strength timed to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for a regional summit.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday’s launches were successful, claiming the missiles flew for more than two hours before striking their intended targets. The report said the test would “expand the operational sphere” of the country’s nuclear-armed forces. South Korea’s military did not immediately confirm the launches.
The announcement came hours before Trump was set to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the city of Gyeongju, where South Korea is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. KCNA said senior military official Pak Jong Chon attended the test and inspected new naval destroyers, which leader Kim Jong Un has touted as vital to strengthening the country’s navy.
The launches follow North Korea’s tests of short-range ballistic missiles last week, which it said involved a new hypersonic weapon intended to bolster its nuclear deterrent. Although Trump has said he is open to meeting Kim during his South Korea trip, Seoul officials have said such a meeting is unlikely. North Korea has avoided talks with Washington and Seoul since Trump’s first-term nuclear diplomacy with Kim collapsed in 2019.
In recent months, Kim has deepened ties with Russia, sending troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine while aligning himself with what he calls a “new Cold War” against the U.S. and its allies.
This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
North Korea Fires Cruise Missiles Hours Before Trump’s South Korea Summit
