North Korea showcases weapons capabilities with air-defence missile test, cruise-missile drill

North Korea showcases weapons capabilities with air-defence missile test, cruise-missile drill



Pyongyang has also hardened its stance towards Seoul and Washington, with a landmine dispute plummetting inter-Korean relations and Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister this week signalling little appetite for renewed talks with the United States. — AFP pic


Summary

• North Korea recently test-fired a new air-defense missile system and conducted a strategic cruise-missile strike drill, as reported by state media.
• This follows a series of recent weapons tests, showcasing capabilities such as cluster munitions and a precision-guided torpedo system.
• The tests coincide with a heightened stance against South Korea and the United States, with strained inter-Korean relations.
• Despite these developments, cruise missile tests remain outside the purview of UN Security Council sanctions.

First Published: Thursday, 05 Nov 2026 8:55 AM MYT



SEOUL, Nov 5 — North Korea test-fired a newly designed air-defence missile system and held a strategic cruise-missile strike drill, state media reported today in the latest showcase of its weapons abilities.

Wednesday’s test came during a flurry of weapons demonstrations in recent weeks that include cluster munitions, attack drones, a precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.

South Korea’s military said yesterday it detected several missiles launched from the North Korea’s Sondok area into the Sea of Japan.


Pyongyang has also hardened its stance towards Seoul and Washington, with a landmine dispute plummetting inter-Korean relations and Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister this week signalling little appetite for renewed talks with the United States.

The newly designed system was test-fired to confirm its technical specifications, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said today.


“The test-fire proved the technical specifications and reliability of the new material and intelligent multiple guided mode of the projectile,” KCNA said, without elaborating on the new material.

It also demonstrated the missile system’s ability to identify and track targets, as well as the reliability of its detection data processing device, it added.


KCNA also said a firepower sub-unit of a long-range strategic cruise-missile unit in eastern North Korea also staged a strike drill on Wednesday.

The unit “perfectly performed its mission to strike a virtual airport target with a long-range strategic cruise missile”, state media said.


The two exercises were aimed and maintaining weapons systems “on a technically high level and improve the combat reliability of the strategic weapon”, KCNA added.

Unlike ballistic missile launches, North Korean cruise missile tests are not prohibited by UN Security Council sanctions.

North Korea has a history of launching missiles around US elections, widely seen as a show of force, including during the midterms four years ago and the presidential election two years ago. — AFP