North Korea test-fires two submarine-launched cruise missiles

North Korea test-fired two types of submarine‑launched strategic cruise missiles on 14 Oct 2026, according to KCNA. The launches were conducted into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, and KCNA said they posed no threat to neighboring countries. The tests followed a September 21 landmine explosion in the DMZ that injured three South Korean soldiers, according to KCNA. The event came after weeks of tension between North and South Korea, according to KCNA.

KCNA described the missile tests as a Navy training exercise aimed at examining the current mobilized posture of underwater combat systems. KCNA said the tests demonstrated high reliability, trustworthiness and ability of the DPRK's war deterrents. Photos released by KCNA showed one missile launched vertically and another at a 45‑degree angle. The vertical launch was described as a steep climb before descent, potentially extending range, according to Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification.

Hong Min added that angled launches allow missiles to fly at lower altitudes from the outset, making them harder for missile defence systems to detect and intercept. The two launch methods serve different tactical purposes, according to Hong Min. North Korea has carried out several submarine‑launched missile tests in recent years, but its sea‑based launch capabilities remain unclear, according to KCNA. Cruise missiles are jet‑propelled and fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect, according to KCNA.

Proven submarine‑launched ballistic missile capability would allow deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second‑strike capability, according to KCNA. In October, North Korea conducted multiple ballistic missile tests, most recently on Monday, according to KCNA. The two Koreas have engaged in a tit‑for‑tat series of missile tests this month, with both sides test‑firing hypersonic weapons, according to KCNA. South Korea test‑fired its first homegrown hypersonic missile last week, days after Pyongyang said it had launched an AI‑assisted intermediate‑range hypersonic missile, according to KCNA.