SEOUL, South Korea — On Sunday, North Korea announced that it successfully tested a cruise missile system, marking the third significant display of military capability from the nation this year. The regime vowed to respond with “the toughest” measures against what it perceives as escalating military exercises by the United States and South Korea, which they claim are targeted provocations.
These developments indicate that North Korea is likely to continue its series of military tests and maintain its confrontational posture towards the U.S., despite recent indications from President Donald Trump of a willingness to engage with Kim Jong Un.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) revealed that Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided weapons on Saturday. The designation “strategic” suggests that these missiles might be capable of carrying nuclear warheads. According to KCNA, the missiles traveled extensive elliptical and figure-eight flight paths, reaching up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) before accurately hitting their designated targets, although these claims could not be independently verified.
Kim emphasized the advancement of North Korea’s military deterrence capabilities, asserting that these are being rigorously perfected. He committed to enhancing the country’s military strength to ensure stability. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea had launched “several” cruise missiles into its western waters from a location inland, around 4 p.m. on Saturday. They affirmed their readiness to respond vigorously and effectively in collaboration with their U.S. military allies to any provocations from the North.
In a separate statement released by KCNA, the North Korean Foreign Ministry chastised the U.S. for what it called “serious military provocations,” denouncing the recent series of military drills conducted alongside South Korea. The statement underscored the necessity for North Korea to employ “the toughest counteraction” against U.S. actions that it claims undermine its sovereignty and security.
The acronym DPRK refers to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is North Korea’s official title. This warning aligns with previous commitments made by Kim to adopt the strictest anti-U.S. policies discussed in a political meeting at the end of the previous year.
North Korea perceives the joint military activities of the U.S. and South Korea as rehearsals for invasion, a claim that both Washington and Seoul consistently reject, asserting that their military exercises are purely defensive. Over recent years, the scale of U.S. and South Korean military drills has increased in reaction to North Korea’s progressive advancement in its nuclear capabilities.
With Trump entering his second term, there is a possibility of renewed diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and North Korea, as Trump had previously met with Kim three times during his first term. However, the diplomatic initiatives that took place in 2018 and 2019 ended without a concrete agreement due to disagreements over economic sanctions imposed on North Korea by the U.S.
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump referred to Kim as “a smart guy” and indicated his intent to reach out to him again, stating, “I will, yeah.” This has raised concerns among analysts who believe Kim may feel a stronger position for negotiations than in past interactions, owing to North Korea’s expanded nuclear arsenal and growing military collaboration with Russia.
In South Korea, there are apprehensions that Trump may reduce military drills with their allied nation and may pivot away from demands for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, focusing instead on eliminating its long-range missile threats to the U.S., while potentially overlooking its nuclear capabilities aimed at South Korea.
During a press conference in the Oval Office post-inauguration, Trump labeled North Korea as “a nuclear power” while discussing his personal rapport with Kim, a description that is typically avoided by Washington, Seoul, and their allies, as it implies tacit acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, which contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions.
After his first summit in 2018, Trump surprised many by announcing the unilateral suspension of major summer military drills which he described as “very provocative” and financially burdensome. Following the latest missile tests, North Korea has yet to comment on Trump’s latest remarks, marking these latest launches as their first known military actions since Trump took office.
