North Korea Test-Fires Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles From Kim Kun Ok

North Korea test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on October 14, 2026, according to its state news agency KCNA, which announced the test on October 15. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it tracked the missiles "from before launch through the cruise phase to the end of their flights" using surveillance assets, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

KCNA said the launches were meant to examine the "current mobilized posture of the underwater combat systems" and to demonstrate the reliability of North Korea's war deterrents, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. The agency added the test had no adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries, according to the Turkish outlet Asharq Al-Awsat's Turkish edition.

Cruise missiles, not ballistic missiles

The weapons KCNA described were submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs), a technically distinct category that typically flies at lower altitude on a guided, non-ballistic trajectory, separate from the ballistic missiles North Korea fired earlier in October. Korea JoongAng Daily identified the two types as the Hwasal-2, described as a longer-range SLCM, and the Pulhwasal-3-31, which has a reported range of up to about 2,000 kilometers and is believed capable of carrying the Hwasan-31, a warhead North Korea describes as a tactical nuclear weapon.

The submarine: Hero Kim Kun Ok

The launches were carried out from the Hero Kim Kun Ok, a roughly 3,000-ton vessel North Korea unveiled in September 2023 and described as its first submarine armed to carry tactical nuclear weapons, according to Korea JoongAng Daily and Milliyet. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that, if confirmed, this marked the first time North Korea has publicly conducted missile launches from the Hero Kim Kun Ok since the vessel was unveiled, and Milliyet noted that outside observers have long expressed doubt about the submarine's claimed operational capabilities.

Kim Jong Un did not attend the test in person, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Instead, working-level officials — identified by Korea JoongAng Daily as Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee, and Jang Chang-ha, director of the missile administration — observed the launches.

Part of a wider run of weapons tests

The submarine launches followed two separate North Korean ballistic-missile tests earlier in October. On October 3, North Korea fired one ballistic missile from the Wonsan area that flew at least 700 kilometers, according to NK News, which cited South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. On October 12, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area, with at least one flying more than 900 kilometers, Euronews reported, citing South Korea's military.

South Korea's National Security Office convened an emergency meeting after the October 12 launch, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff said surveillance had been increased against possible further launches, with information shared with the United States and Japan, according to Euronews. Euronews also reported that Japan's defense ministry had detected at least one suspected ballistic missile.

Euronews reported that South Korea had recently tested a domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle, which officials described as offering a new deterrence capability for striking targets within the Korean Peninsula. Separately, a land mine explosion occurred in the DMZ area controlled by Seoul on September 21, injuring three South Korean soldiers, according to Asharq Al-Awsat's Turkish edition.

What remains unknown

North Korea has not disclosed the exact range, speed or warhead configuration of the cruise missiles tested on October 14, and outside analysts have not independently confirmed KCNA's description of the test's success. It is also not publicly confirmed whether the Hero Kim Kun Ok has been declared operationally deployed, as opposed to still undergoing weapons trials three years after its unveiling, according to Milliyet.