The Joint Chiefs of Staff said on the 26th, "North Korea launched several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on the afternoon of the 25th."
The Joint Chiefs of Staff noted, "Our military had prior knowledge of North Korea's cruise missile launch signs on the 25th and was prepared. We tracked and monitored North Korea's launch of several cruise missiles from the mainland into the Yellow Sea around 4 p.m. The detailed specifications are under precise analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies."
The Joint Chiefs of Staff added, "In the current security situation, our military maintains a robust readiness posture under the solid South Korea-U.S. combined defense system to monitor North Korea's various activities to prevent any misjudgments and is capable of overwhelmingly responding to any provocations."
(North) Korean Central News Agency reported that "the launched strategic cruise missiles flew along elliptical and figure-eight trajectories for 1,500 kilometers for 7,507 to 7,511 seconds, successfully hitting the target," adding that "this did not have any negative impact on the safety of neighboring countries."
Kim Jong Un, the Chairperson of North Korea, claimed, "The war deterrent means of the republic's armed forces are becoming more thoroughly equipped," and stated, "We will always strive responsibly in our significant mission and duty to safeguard sustained and permanent peace and stability based on increasingly powerful military strength in the future."
North Korea explained that this test launch is part of a national defense construction plan aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of strategic deterrence against potential adversaries to meet the changing security environment in the region.
Previously, North Korea launched a hypersonic missile on the 6th, before Donald Trump's inauguration, and a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) on the 14th.