Pyongyang: North Korea announced that it has test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea, an event that took place just before U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Missile Administration conducted the test a day earlier, under the supervision of Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling party. This missile launch coincides with President Trump's expressed intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to South Korea on October 29-30 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Pak Jong-chon stated that significant advancements are being made in establishing North Korea's nuclear forces on a practical level, aligning with the strategic plan of the Party Central Committee aimed at expanding the application of war deterrents. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the cruise missiles, modified for ship-based launches, were launched vertically and followed a predetermined route over the Yellow Sea, lasting over 7,800 seconds before reaching their target.