North Korea test-fires submarine-launched cruise missiles amid rising tensions

North Korea conducted submarine-launched cruise missile tests off its eastern coast, according to state media reports. The tests, described as strategic, suggest a potential capability to arm the missiles with nuclear warheads, though the official confirmation of a submarine launch remains unclear. The missile development follows recent tests of various weapons, aiming to bolster North Korea's military deterrence against the United States and South Korea.

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, has prioritized expanding the country's nuclear arsenal, dismissing denuclearization as a possibility. Meanwhile, U.S.-North Korea relations have cooled, with no meetings between Trump and Kim during Trump's presidency. Trump has hinted at a potential meeting during an upcoming Asia trip. North Korea has severed all coordination with South Korea and removed reunification references from its constitution.