North Korea on Wednesday claimed success in its latest sea-launched cruise missile tests, showcasing advances in its expanding military arsenal as U.S. President Donald Trump began a visit to South Korea.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missiles, launched Tuesday, flew for more than two hours before hitting targets in western waters. It said the tests would strengthen the range and operational capabilities of the North’s nuclear-armed military.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch activity, saying the missiles were fired around 3pm from the country’s northwest coast. Officials said Seoul and Washington are analyzing the weapons while maintaining a joint defense posture capable of a “dominant response” to any threat.
The announcement came just hours before Trump was due to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, where Seoul is hosting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this week.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Japan, Trump minimized the significance of the launches, saying North Korea has been testing missiles “for decades.” He reiterated his willingness to meet leader Kim Jong Un again, noting their previous summits in 2018 and 2019 before diplomacy stalled over sanctions disputes.
KCNA said senior military official Pak Jong Chon oversaw the drills and inspected operations aboard the newly built destroyers Choe Hyon and Kang Kon, which Kim has touted as vital to boosting naval forces.
The cruise missile tests followed a series of short-range ballistic launches last week involving what Pyongyang described as a new hypersonic system aimed at strengthening its nuclear deterrence.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his stay, though South Korean officials say a Trump–Kim encounter is unlikely.
North Korea has refused talks with Washington and Seoul since negotiations collapsed in 2019. Its diplomatic focus has shifted toward Russia, as Kim supplies troops and military equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine and calls for a “new Cold War” against the U.S.-led West.
Kim recently reiterated he will not return to dialogue unless Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization, despite Trump’s renewed push for engagement.
