DPRK tests cruise missile for submarines

26 January, 2025 Launch of the Pulhwasal-3-31 missile during a test launch on 25.01.2025. Photo credits: KNCA North Korea has conducted new tests of a long-range cruise missile for submarines known as the Pulhwasal-3-31.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on this. The test launch took place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Missile Control Test Site. "The tests were conducted as part of an overall plan to implement efforts to build the country's defense capabilities aimed at improving the effectiveness of strategic deterrence of potential adversaries in accordance with the changing regional security environment," the agency reported.

A Pulhwasal-3-31 missile during a test launch on January 25, 2025. Photo by KNCA South Korea's military has confirmed North Korea's missile launches, saying it spotted several cruise missiles being launched from North Korea's interior toward the Yellow Sea at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 25.

"Detailed specifications are currently being closely analyzed by the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States," the the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. According to the DPRK, the missiles accurately hit the targets after flying along elliptical and figure-eight trajectories with a total length of 1,500 km for 7,507-7,511 seconds. This means that the missiles had an average speed of approximately 200 m/s during the flight.

The first test of the new long-range cruise missile known as Pulhwasal-3-31 took place on January 24, 2024, from a ground launcher. On February 28, a test launch was conducted from a submarine.

Test launch of the Pulhwasal-3-31 strategic submarine-launched cruise missile. Photo credits: KCNA.

According to the South Korean General Staff, the Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile is not a completely new product but a version of the Hwasal family adapted for underwater launch.

The first missile from this family, the Hwasal-1, was presented at a parade on January 14, 2021. For example, during the first test of the new missile, the South Korean military stated that the DPRK was conducting a large-scale modernization of old missiles, and the test launch was part of the verification.

Comparison of Hwasal-1 (Western designation KN-27) and Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles. Photo credits: KCNA

In early January 2025, North Korea (DPRK) announced that it had successfully tested a new intermediate-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead.

Test of a hypersonic missile in the DPRK.

January 6, 2025.

Photo credits: KCNA

The DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the missile flew about 1,500 kilometers during the test at a speed 12 times faster than the speed of sound.