North Korea fires two “strategic cruise missiles” from a submarine

North Korea launched two “strategic cruise missiles” from a submarine in waters off its east coast over the weekend, state media said on Monday, presumably in protest of a regular South Korea-US combined military practise set to begin this week.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the missiles were launched from 8.24 Yongung in seas around Kyongpho Bay in the East Sea during an underwater launching rehearsal performed at daybreak Sunday (KCNA).

“The drill confirmed the reliability of the weapon system and examined the underwater-to-surface offensive operations of submarine units that constitute one of the other major forces of the DPRK nuclear deterrent,” the KCNA said.

The missiles precisely hit preset targets in the East Sea after “traveling the 1,500 km-long eight-shaped flight orbits for 7,563 to 7,575 seconds.”

“The drill…verified the current operation posture of the nuclear war deterrence means in different spaces,” the KCNA said.

Earlier in the day, South Korea’s military said it detected an unspecified missile launched from a submarine in waters off the North’s eastern coastal city of Sinpo on Sunday morning. It did not immediately provide other details.

“While strengthening its monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the United States,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message sent to reporters.

The latest launch came on the eve of the allies’ major Freedom Shield exercise, which kicks off Monday. The North has decried the exercise as “preparations for a war of aggression” against it.

At a key military meeting presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the North has decided to take “important, practical” measures for the “offensive use” of war deterrents, according to the KCNA.

North Korea was widely expected to conduct nuclear tests in conjunction with the partners’ joint military drills, which Pyongyang has long decried as a dress rehearsal for an invasion.

Earlier this week, North Korea chose to take “important, practical” measures for the “offensive use” of war deterrents, as the United States and South Korea prepare to conduct their joint military drill, according to Yonhap News Agency.

According to KCNA, the decision was reached during an extended meeting of the governing Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Committee, which was presided over by leader Kim Jong-un.