North Korea fires cruise missiles in fresh flurry of tests

SEOUL: North Korea fired another round of cruise missiles on Tuesday, Seoul´s military said, extending a recent flurry of tests of weapons that analysts warned could be destined for Russia´s war in Ukraine.

This month, Pyongyang has conducted tests of what it called an “underwater nuclear weapon system”, a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile, and a new generation of strategic cruise missiles.

Relations between the two Koreas have sharply deteriorated, with Kim Jong Un declaring Seoul his principal enemy, as he pulls closer to Moscow, including, Washington says, sending weapons for use in Ukraine.

South Korea´s military said it had detected the launch of several cruise missiles early Tuesday, adding that it was “conducting a detailed analysis” while strengthening surveillance in cooperation with ally the United States.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions on Pyongyang.