North Korea tests air defense system and strategic cruise missile

North Korea test-fired a new air defense missile system and held a strike drill with a long-range strategic cruise missile on Wednesday. UPI and the South China Morning Post both reported that state-run media confirmed the tests, which marked Pyongyang's fourth round of weapons tests in a week. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected multiple missiles fired toward the sea separating Korea and Japan from the Sondok area, according to UPI. [1][3]

The Korean Central News Agency reported that the North's Missile Administration conducted the air defense missile test without releasing location details or technical specifications, UPI reported. NBC News also reported that North Korea confirmed testing an air defense missile alongside the cruise missile drill. The Washington Post reported that Pyongyang launched missiles toward the sea while protesting against United States claims involving a Binance hack. [1][6][11]

Analysts told the South China Morning Post that North Korea is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States. Recent Democratic gains in the United States midterm elections have reduced the likelihood of renewed summit diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump, according to the outlet. The South China Morning Post added that Pyongyang will likely lean on Moscow and Beijing rather than bank on talks with Washington. [3]

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Pyongyang previously conducted multiple tests in October, including submarine-launched cruise missiles, attack drones, and short-range ballistic missiles. [13][15][16]