[Breaking] North Korea Fires Multiple Cruise Missiles

North Korea is reported to have launched several cruise missiles on the 22nd in the area of Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province.

On the same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Around 10:15 a.m., multiple cruise missile launches were detected toward the East Sea."

The military is analyzing the exact type and flight range of the missiles, and there is speculation that they could be long-range strategic cruise missiles, referred to as the "North Korean version of the Tomahawk." This missile launch comes three days after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) on the 19th. At that time, North Korea claimed to have successfully conducted a tactical nuclear explosion simulation test at an altitude of 800 meters over the East Sea with an SRBM launched at a range of 800 km.

Regarding cruise missiles, North Korea claimed to have fired two from a submarine off the coast of Sinpo on the 12th and also claimed to have launched missiles in the Kimchaek area on the 23rd of last month. However, the military stated it is verifying the authenticity of these claims, raising the possibility that they may be false.

North Korea appears to have engaged in a series of provocations in response to the ongoing South Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Freedom Shield" (FS), which began on the 13th.