North Korea fires cruise missiles as Kim underscores nuclear ambitions

By Fox News · Fox News

North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles as leader Kim Jong Un pledged to continue "unlimited" development of its nuclear stockpile, according to state media. The launches involved cruise missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads, according to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim promised to "devote all their efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force ." The weapons flew over the country’s west coast for close to three hours, KCNA said. It did not reveal how far the missiles traveled. TRUMP SAYS HE'D BE WILLING TO EXTEND ASIA TRIP TO MEET WITH NORTH KOREA'S KIM JONG UN KCNA said the drills were intended to demonstrate the "combat readiness of the nuclear deterrence force" and ensure the country’s ability to carry out what it called a "swift and overwhelming retaliatory strike" in the event of war. "The launch drill served as a clear warning to the enemies who are seriously threatening the security environment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," KCNA reported, using the country’s formal name. South Korea ’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles around 8 a.m. Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. TRUMP SAYS HE'S 'OPEN' TO MEETING WITH KIM JONG UN DURING ASIA TRIP, NORTH KOREA IS 'SORT OF A NUCLEAR POWER' A spokesperson for South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the launches were part of a series of recent military activities by North Korea that "undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." North Korea has also recently highlighted what it claims is progress on a nuclear-powered submarine program, releasing new images of Kim inspecting construction at a shipyard alongside his daughter. The Korean Central News Agency said the vessel is an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine that Pyongyang intends to arm with nuclear weapons. Kim has described the project as a key step in modernizing and nuclear-arming North…