North Korea Confirms Successful Test of New SLBM

The Pukguksong-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile was fired “in vertical mode” on Wednesday from the water near the eastern city of Wonsan, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported

North Korea Confirms Successful Test of New SLBM

Source: Twitter

North Korea confirmed Thursday that it successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, describing it as a “significant achievement.”

Wednesday’s launch was the first involving a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) for three years. It came a day after Pyongyang announced the resumption of nuclear talks with Washington.

The new type of SLBM called Pukguksong-3 was launched “in vertical mode” on Wednesday from the water near the eastern city of Wonsan, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

“The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces’ threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defense,” KCNA said.

The test “had no adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries,” KCNA added.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that the missile reached an altitude of 910 km (565 miles) and traveled about 450 km (280 miles) to the east before landing in the Sea of Japan.