[2nd Report] North Fires Cruise Missile... Possibility of 'North Korean Tomahawk'

Possibility of Long-Range Strategic Cruise Missile

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

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

The military is analyzing the exact type and flight range of the missiles, with the possibility raised that they are long-range strategic cruise missiles, often referred to as the "North Korean version of the Tomahawk." North Korea conducted a test launch of a new missile called the self-proclaimed "long-range strategic cruise missile" on January 25 last year. This missile is evaluated as the "North Korean version of the Tomahawk," and the missile launched in September this year appears to carry the designation "strategic," suggesting it is a North Korean Tomahawk-type cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Our military can also respond to enemy cruise missiles using surface-to-air interception systems such as "Cheongung," "Patriot (PAC-3)," and naval air defense systems like "SM-2."

This missile launch by North Korea comes three days after the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launch 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 with a range of 800 km.

Regarding cruise missiles, North Korea claimed to have fired two missiles 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, but the military stated it is verifying the authenticity, raising the possibility that these claims may be false.

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