Politics

North Korea launches another round of cruise missiles: Seoul

Seoul, Feb 2 (EFE).- North Korea on Friday launched several cruise missiles off its west coast, the South Korean military reported, becoming the fourth test of this type in the past 10 days.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several cruise missiles of unidentified type launched by North Korea into the West Sea around 11 am (02:00 GMT).

This is the fourth test of this type in the last 10 days after those carried out on Jan. 24, 28 and 30 with Pulhwasal-3-31 and Hwasal-2 cruise missiles.

Although North Korea’s cruise missile launches are not punishable by UN sanctions, they are notable for the fact that they fly at low altitude and have great maneuverability makes them a difficult weapon to intercept.

Experts believe that the Pulhwasal-3-31 could be a third version of the Hwasal (Arrow) cruise missiles and that the number 31 could refer to the fact that they can carry the Hwasan-31 (Volcano-31) tactical nuclear warhead, the existence of which was first revealed last year.

Friday’s weapons test coincides with the publication in North Korean state media of the leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to the Nampho dockyards, where ships are built for the navy.

Kim stated that “strengthening of the naval force presents itself as the most important issue in reliably defending the maritime sovereignty of the country and stepping up the war preparations at present,” KCNA reported.

A few days ago he highlighted the progress made in providing the navy with nuclear weapons and, after describing the South as the main enemy of his country and stating that reconciliation between them is now impossible, he considered that Pyongyang cannot tolerate the drawing of the so-called Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea.

Drawn by the United Nations to avoid new clashes after the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953, the NLL is rejected by North Korea, which defends that the dividing line should be located further south.

The North Korean regime conducted artillery exercises alongside the NLL in early January, prompting Seoul to issue evacuation alerts on border islands and respond with its own live-fire drills. EFE

asb/tw

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