North Korea Conducts Upgraded Hwasal-1 Strategic Cruise Missile Drill Over Yellow Sea.

North Korea conducted a long-range strategic cruise missile launch drill over the Yellow Sea on December 28, involving what analysts assess to be an upgraded variant of the Hwasal-1 cruise missile. The test underscores Pyongyang’s push to strengthen cruise missile forces as a survivable and less predictable component of its nuclear deterrent.

North Korea carried out a long-range strategic cruise missile launch drill on December 28 using what is assessed to be an upgraded variant of the Hwasal-1 long-range strategic cruise missile, according to information released by the Korean Central News Agency. Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the exercise. It involved two missiles launched from the country’s western coastline, flying for nearly three hours along preprogrammed routes over the Yellow Sea before striking designated targets, a demonstration Pyongyang said was intended to verify the readiness and reliability of its strategic counterstrike forces.
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Two strategic cruise missiles were launched from North Korea’s western coastline and flew along preprogrammed trajectories over the Yellow Sea before striking their designated targets (Picture source: KCNA)

The drill involved long-range missile units tasked with executing strategic counterattack missions. According to Pyongyang, the objective was to assess counterstrike readiness, train personnel in maneuver and launch procedures, and verify the reliability of the associated weapons systems. Two strategic cruise missiles were launched from North Korea’s western coastline and flew along preprogrammed trajectories over the Yellow Sea before striking their designated targets. North Korean authorities reported flight durations of 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds, respectively, nearly three hours each, without disclosing the total distance covered, while emphasizing that both missions were completed as planned.

From a technical perspective, the characteristics described align with North Korea’s new generation of long range cruise missiles, particularly the Hwasal family first unveiled publicly in 2023. These missiles are powered by compact turbofan engines, a propulsion choice that enables extended subsonic flight with reduced fuel consumption at the expense of speed. This configuration favors endurance and sustained flight rather than rapid time to target, consistent with a penetration-oriented mission profile.

Guidance is believed to rely on an inertial navigation system supplemented by terrain contour matching and possibly rudimentary satellite updates. This combination supports complex low altitude flight paths, often below 100 meters, designed to exploit radar coverage gaps and delay detection. Open source assessments generally estimate the missile’s range at between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers, depending on flight profile and payload, placing the Korean Peninsula, most of Japan, and certain US regional facilities within theoretical reach.

Payload capacity is another central factor. North Korean statements indicate that these cruise missiles are intended to carry a nuclear warhead, positioning them as strategic deterrence assets. While no independent confirmation exists regarding the operational integration of a nuclear payload on this system, progress observed in North Korea’s ballistic missile warhead miniaturization suggests such a capability could be achievable over time. In a conventional configuration, the missile is assessed to be capable of delivering a warhead weighing several hundred kilograms against fixed high-value targets.

Operationally, these systems complement North Korea’s existing ballistic missile inventory. Unlike ballistic missiles, which are detected early by strategic warning radars, cruise missiles pose different challenges due to their low altitude flight, variable trajectories, and reduced radar signature. Their deployment on road mobile launchers increases survivability and allows for dispersed firing positions, complicating efforts to neutralize them preemptively.

The December 28 drill fits within a broader expansion of North Korea’s cruise missile arsenal. Since 2021, Pyongyang has increased testing of both subsonic and more advanced missile systems while diversifying launch platforms. Kim Jong Un’s recent inspection of a nuclear powered submarine under construction, described as capable of carrying guided missiles, points to a future sea-based launch option that would further diversify delivery modes. At the same time, North Korea continues testing long range surface to air missiles and upgrading its command and control structures, aiming to establish a more integrated and resilient force architecture.

Kim Jong Un used the occasion to reiterate the importance of regularly verifying the reliability and responsiveness of the country’s nuclear deterrent components, presenting these activities as measures taken in response to what Pyongyang describes as external security pressures. The emphasis on repeated testing underscores a doctrine that prioritizes demonstrated readiness and system credibility as core elements of deterrence.

At the regional level, the missile launch occurs amid tightening security coordination among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, particularly in missile defense and data sharing. Seoul has condemned the series of North Korean military actions as destabilizing and has urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue. From North Korea’s perspective, the display of strategic cruise missile capabilities broadens its deterrence posture by adding flexible and less predictable strike options. This development adds complexity to the security environment in Northeast Asia, where managing escalation increasingly depends on balancing advanced offensive and defensive systems within an already strained regional framework.