North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥� North Korea said Monday it fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to test the country鈥檚 nuclear deterrence, days after it showed apparent progress in the construction of its first

Sunday鈥檚 launches were the latest weapons display by North Korea ahead of its planned ruling early next year. Keen outside attention on the congress, the first of its kind in five years, will be on whether North Korean leader will establish new priorities in relations with the U.S. and respond to Washington’s calls to resume long-dormant talks.

The official Korean Central 海角社区app Agency reported that Kim expressed 鈥済reat satisfaction鈥� over Sunday’s launches, which occurred off the country鈥檚 west coast. It said Kim noted that testing the reliability of North Korea’s nuclear deterrence and demonstrating its might are 鈥渏ust a responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence鈥� in the face of external security threats.

South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was aware of several cruise missile launches made from North Korea鈥檚 capital region on Sunday morning. It said South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any potential North Korean provocations through its alliance with the United States.

U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from launches involving its huge stockpile of ballistic missiles. Its cruise missile tests aren鈥檛 banned, but they still pose a threat to the U.S. and South Korea because they are highly maneuverable and fly at low altitudes to avoid radar detection. Analysts say North Korea would aim to use cruise missiles to strike U.S. warships and aircraft carriers in the event of conflict.

Last week, North Korea test-launched new anti-air missiles off its east coast and displayed photos showing a largely completed hull of a developmental nuclear-powered submarine. North Korea implied it would arm the submarine with nuclear missiles.

is among a slew of sophisticated weapons systems that Kim has vowed to introduce to cope with what he describes as U.S.-led security threats. Some experts say North Korea鈥檚 recent 鈥� including sending thousands of troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 war in Ukraine 鈥� may have helped it to receive crucial technologies in return.

North Korea has focused on weapons-testing activities to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim’s high-stakes with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

But in an apparent response to Trump鈥檚 repeated outreach, Kim suggested in September that he could if the U.S. drops 鈥渋ts delusional obsession with of North Korea. Experts say Kim might think his enlarged nuclear arsenal would give him greater leverage to wrest concessions in potential talks with Trump.