North Korea Conducts Test of Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles, According to KCNA

North Korea conducted a second test of its new strategic cruise missiles on Sunday, calling it a newly developed submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), as reported by state media on Monday. Leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of the missile, called “Pulhwasal-3-31,” which flew above the sea off the country’s east coast for more than two hours and hit an unspecified island target. South Korea’s military confirmed the firing of multiple cruise missiles but did not provide details. State media photographs showed a missile launching into the sky from the water, obscuring the type of platform it was being fired from. North Korea has also tested an array of other weapons in recent months, including ballistic missile systems and an underwater drone. Kim also inspected the construction of a nuclear submarine and discussed the manufacturing of new warships. Last year, North Korea said it had launched its first operational nuclear attack submarine, but there is skepticism regarding the real-world utility of such a vessel. Kim declared plans to accelerate the programme to build nuclear-powered submarines.