The South Korean army announced that the North's neighbor had launched several cruise missiles off its eastern coast on Wednesday morning. Pyongyang launched cruise missiles over the waters northeast of Wonsan as part of a series of tests this year.
Cruise missile tests are not subject to international sanctions imposed on North Korea, unlike ballistic missiles based on space technology. Cruise missiles are characterized by jet propulsion technology and low altitude, which makes them difficult to detect and counter. Some analysts believe that Pyongyang is testing cruise missiles for export to Moscow, where the Russian military may use them in its war with Ukraine.