North Korea Cruise Missile Launch 2025 | Kim Jong Un Oversees Strategic Test

North Korea has conducted a test launch of long‑range strategic cruise missiles, with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the drill, state media and military sources reported. The launches took place off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula and are being framed by Pyongyang as a demonstration of its growing missile capabilities and deterrence posture. 

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and South Korean defense officials, the missiles were fired into the West Sea (Yellow Sea) and hit their intended targets after flying predetermined trajectories. The launch was described by state media as a way to verify combat readiness and the reliability of North Korea’s strategic counter‑attack capability in response to what it calls “external threats.”

Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the results of the test, emphasizing that such drills are a responsible exercise of the country’s self‑defense and war deterrence amid ongoing regional tensions. 

The missiles involved in these tests are classified as long‑range strategic cruise missiles, a class of weapon that travels at low altitudes and is harder for radar systems to detect compared with traditional ballistic missiles. While cruise missiles are not explicitly banned under U.N. sanctions — unlike many ballistic missile tests — their enhanced maneuverability and potential to be fitted with conventional or even nuclear‑capable warheads raise diplomatic concerns. 

Previous years have seen North Korea develop and test similar systems, including the Hwasal‑1 and Hwasal‑2 cruise missiles, which are capable of carrying heavy warheads and being launched from land, sea, or mobile platforms.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed detection of the cruise missile launches and stated that Seoul, in coordination with allied partners like the United States, is carefully analyzing the missile data and monitoring further activity.

The launch comes at a time of heightened military focus in the region, as North Korea shows progress on other strategic capabilities, including a nuclear‑powered submarine project and enhanced air defense systems. These developments contribute to a broader pattern of weapons testing that Pyongyang asserts is necessary to counter perceived threats from U.S.-led alliances and South Korea’s defense initiatives. 

Strategic Messaging: By test‑firing long‑range cruise missiles under Kim’s direct supervision, North Korea aims to signal strength to rivals and reassure domestic audiences of its defensive capabilities.

Military Capability: Cruise missiles complement North Korea’s existing arsenal, offering stealthier threat options against naval and land targets.

Regional Tensions: Such tests can heighten tensions with neighbouring countries, particularly South Korea and Japan, and trigger responses from the United States, which maintains a significant military presence in the region.

North Korea’s cruise missile launch supervised by Kim Jong Un underscores Pyongyang’s continued drive to advance its strategic weapons programs. While not a violation of all international bans, the development and testing of long‑range cruise missiles add complexity to diplomatic efforts aimed at stability on the Korean Peninsula and broader Indo‑Pacific security dynamics