North Korea conducts fifth cruise missile launch of the year

People watch breaking news of a North Korean cruise missile launch at Seoul Station on Feb. 2. [YONHAP]

North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday morning, according to the South Korean military.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the military detected several cruise missiles fired from Wonsan in Gangwon Province, North Korea, around 9 a.m.

The JCS said that South Korean and U.S. intelligence are analyzing the launch.

This marks the fifth cruise missile launch by North Korea so far this year.

The latest launch comes nearly two weeks after the last launch on Feb. 2.

North Korea began its string of tests by launching its new strategic cruise missiles, known as the "Pulhwasal-3-31," near Pyongyang into the Yellow Sea on Jan. 24.

On Jan. 28, two "Pulhwasal-3-31" missiles were fired from Sinpho, a port city in South Hamgyong Province. A "Hwasal-2" missile was launched into the Yellow Sea two days later.

North Korea launched more cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on Feb. 2, claiming them to be a "new-type weapon system."

The latest launch occurred just two days before the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which is often marked by provocations from North Korea.

Cruise missiles, powered by jet propulsion technology, are harder to detect despite flying at lower speeds and altitudes than ballistic missiles. Intercepting cruise missiles is difficult as they are capable of changing trajectories.

Until 2022, the JCS disclosed North Korea's ballistic missile launches to the public but did not do so with cruise missiles.

Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, considered unmanned aerial vehicles, are not explicitly barred by the United Nations Security Council as they are not inherently prohibited weapons under international law.

However, since last year, the JCS has been informing the public about cruise missiles fired from North Korea as they are developing strategic cruise missiles with nuclear payloads.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]