[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Did Cruise Missiles Also Carry Nuclear Warheads?

Possibility of Using Torpedo Tubes Instead of Vertical Launch Systems
Nuclear Warheads Prioritize Miniaturization, So No Certainty

North Korea's launch of cruise missiles from a submarine has drawn attention to whether they are equipped with nuclear warheads.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, the Combined Chiefs of Staff assessed that North Korea's launch of two cruise missiles from a submarine in the Sinpo area on the morning of the 12th is an attempt to secure a new platform capable of evading the South Korea-US interception network. Submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) are intended to increase the survivability of weapons by retaining retaliatory capabilities even if preemptive strikes occur in emergencies.

The issue is that North Korea referred to these missiles as "strategic cruise missiles," suggesting the possibility of nuclear warhead deployment. Regarding this, the South Korean military stated, "We cannot say definitively," adding, "Nuclear warheads need to be miniaturized to be mounted, and we are analyzing the feasibility."

According to photos released by North Korea, the strategic cruise missiles flew at an oblique angle rather than vertically after underwater ejection. It is highly likely that they used torpedo tubes instead of vertical launch tubes, unlike the US Tomahawk SLCMs.

If cruise missiles can be launched from other submarines without significant modifications, the nature of cruise missiles means they may not be fully detected, potentially rendering the South Korea-US missile defense system completely ineffective.

However, the military believes that submarine-launched cruise missiles have not yet been deployed in actual combat.

A military official stated, "We believe there are multiple submarine units, and it seems that inspections are being conducted in line with the South Korea-US joint exercises at the end of North Korea's winter training," adding, "We view this as an 'initial phase test launch.'"