North Korea unveils cruise missile similar to Russian KH-35
In a propaganda film, North Korea has revealed footage of a newly developed cruise missile.
The North Korean missile is believed to be similar to the Russian KH-35 missile, which came into service in 2003.
Cruise missiles are short-range weapons guided by on-board computers, used to attack specific targets. The majority of the North’s known missiles are much larger, longer-range missiles.
North Korea is under UN sanctions over its weapons and nuclear programs.
Many in the West believe Pyongyang is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
But analysts say North Korea does not appear to have successfully manufactured a warhead small enough to be carried by its missiles.
North Korea’s suspected new cruise missile was revealed for only a split second at the end of the 50-minute propaganda film.
It appeared in between montages of soldiers shouting, tanks firing in unison and leader Kim Jong-un laughing.
From that brief glimpse, some analysts have deduced that the missile is a modified version of the KH-35 anti-ship missile.
It is unclear whether North Korea previously owned any cruise missiles.
South Korean media has already speculated that the cruise missile could pose a potential new threat to the South’s navy.