The DPRK announced, on Thursday, the completion of its inaugural test for a new era of "strategic" cruise missiles.

DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency reported that the Pulhwasal-3-31 missile is currently in the developmental stage, emphasizing that the test launch did not pose any threat to neighboring nations. The term "strategic" generally implies weapons with nuclear capabilities.

The test was described as "a continuous process of enhancing the weapon system and a routine and mandatory activity", as per the report.

This comes a day after Seoul's military announced that the DPRK launched several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea. 

It is worth noting that the DPRK increased its weapon testing activities since the new year to include underwater nuclear weapon testing and a solid-fuel hypersonic ballistic missile, especially amid US-South Korea military exercises in the region.

The United States, South Korea, and Japan engaged in extensive joint naval exercises, as reported by South Korea's military on January 17. Concurrently, senior diplomats from the three allies were scheduled to convene in Seoul to address the escalating tensions with Pyongyang. 

The DPRK responds to South Korea's threats

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un affirmed, on January 10, that should South Korea's army violate the DPRK's sovereignty, Pyongyang intends to "annihilate" the ROK.

"If the ROK dares attempt to use armed forces against the DPRK or threaten its sovereignty and security and such opportunity comes, we will have no hesitation in annihilating the ROK by mobilizing all means and forces in our hands," Kim said.

The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea explained in a final 2023 address that Pyongyang will no longer regard South Korea as an extension of the Korean people but as "a colonial stooge of the US".

At the time, the DPRK leader also highlighted that "the US inveterate hostile acts against the DPRK are not only confined to rhetoric threat or demonstration purposes but have evidently evolved into a stage of execution which can lead to actual military actions and thus trigger a conflict between the armed forces of both sides."

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is exerting strained efforts to enhance military collaboration with both Washington and Tokyo, concurrently seeking stronger assurances from the United States. These assurances involve a swift and decisive commitment to utilizing its nuclear capabilities for the defense of South Korea against the DPRK.

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