North Korea conducted successful tests of a new long-range cruise missile over the weekend, its state media, KCNA, said on Monday, amid an extended standoff with the US over denuclearization.
The missiles flew 1,500 Km (930 miles) before hitting their targets and falling their targets and falling into North’s territorial waters during the tests held on Saturday and Sunday, KCNA said. It was North Korea’s first missile test after it launched a new tactical short-range ballistic missile in March. North Korea also conducted a cruise missile test just hours after US President Joe Biden assumed charge in late January.
This test highlighted a steady improvement in Pyongyang’s weapons program amid an impasse over talks aimed at dismantling the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs in return for US sanctions relief. The talks have halted since 2019.
The missile is a strategic weapon that has been developed over the past two years and a key element of a five-year plan outlined in January to advanced defence science and arsenals, KCNA said.