North Korea's diversifying missile arsenal complicates South's defense
North Korea is displaying an increasingly diverse missile arsenal this year, firing from different platforms — on land, aboard warships and, according to Pyongyang, underwater from a submarine — while testing weapons designed to carry heavier warheads, maneuver to evade interception and inflict damage over wider areas. The frequency of missile tests has also increased, with 16 ballistic missile…
North Korea is demonstrating a growing and varied missile arsenal in 2025, with tests conducted from multiple locations and designed to carry larger warheads. In just the first quarter of the year, there have been 16 ballistic missile launches, surpassing the total of 2024 and more than double the number from all of 2025. This increased frequency of tests is even more concerning due to the diversification of North Korea's missile capabilities.
Apart from land-based launches, North Korea has tested cruise missiles from warships and, according to Pyongyang, from a submarine. These expanded capabilities provide Kim Jong-un's military with additional options for striking targets from various directions, complicating the defensive strategies of South Korea and the United States. While Pyongyang claims to have advanced technologies, questions remain about the veracity of these assertions.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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