North Korea test launches cruise missiles in message to ‘enemies’ – state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a test-launch in the Yellow Sea of what state media described as strategic cruise missiles and ordered full readiness in nuclear attack capability.

According to North Korea’s state media KCNA, the purpose of the launching drill was “to let the enemies, who are fostering and escalating the confrontation environment while seriously violating the security environment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, know the [Korean People’s Army] counterattack capability in any space and the readiness of its various nuke operation means, to demonstrate the reliability of the state nuclear deterrent and to make the strategic cruise missile sub-units get adept in fulfilling their sudden firing mission.”

The strategic cruise missiles precisely hit the targets after making flights along a 1 587km-long oval trajectory for 130 minutes, KCNA reported. The drills took place on Wednesday.

A powerful striking ability is the most perfect deterrent and defence capability, KCNA quoted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying. He added that it is the "responsible mission and duty of the DPRK's nuclear forces to durably defend the national sovereignty and security with the reliable nuclear shield by making them more thoroughly ready for combat and fully prepared for their use."