North Korea says it tested cruise missiles designed to be fired from submarines
North Korea has conducted tests of cruise missiles designed for submarine deployment, signaling an expansion of its nuclear-capable military arsenal. These tests occur amidst a ongoing diplomatic stalemate with the United States and South Korea.
Why it matters
Escalating military activity in the Korean Peninsula poses significant risks to regional security and international non-proliferation efforts.
North Korea says it has test-fired cruise missiles designed to be fired from submarines as it continues to expand its military capabilities during a prolonged freeze in diplomacy with Washington and Seoul.
North Korean state media on Thursday (October 15, 2026) said the military tested two types of such missiles in the country's eastern waters on Wednesday (October 14, 2026). The report described the weapons as strategic, implying an intent to arm them with nuclear warheads, but did not specify whether they were launched from an actual submarine or an underwater test platform.
North Korean state media said the tests were aimed at assessing the readiness of the country's underwater combat systems, improving the Navy's ability to carry out strategic missions and demonstrating the reliability of its nuclear deterrent.
The South's military did not immediately comment on the tests.
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