▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 25, 2024, shows the North's first test-firing of the new Pulhwasal-3-31 strategic cruise missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-missile launch

N.K. leader oversees submarine-launched cruise missile tests: state media

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen the test fire of submarine-launched cruise missiles and reviewed the country's project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, state media reported Monday.

The Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles precisely hit preset targets on an islet in the East Sea after traveling for 7,421 seconds to 7,445 seconds, it said, without disclosing further details, such as their flight distances.

The South Korean military said Sunday it had detected the North's launch of several cruise missiles at around 8 a.m. over waters near the eastern port city of Sinpo.

North Korea said it test-fired a new cruise missile, named the Pulhwasal-3-31, for the first time Wednesday in what was seen as an effort to strengthen its capabilities to deliver tactical nuclear warheads.

Cruise missiles fly low and are able to maneuver, making them better at evading missile defenses.

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