(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 12 - North Korea has reported that it has launched 2 strategic cruise missiles from a submarine in the Sea of Japan in an exercise.
This was reported by the North Korean agency KCNA.
"The 'August 24 Hero Warship' submarine that was mobilized for the exercise launched two strategic cruise missiles into the waters off Kyongphone Bay in the East Sea of Korea," KCNA wrote.
"The launch exercise has successfully achieved its purpose".
Pyongyang explained that the launch exercise represents a response to the "military moves of the US imperialists and traitor South Korean puppets against North Korea" and demonstrates "the regular functioning of the deterrent means of nuclear warfare".
The launch took place on the eve of the large joint exercise Freedom Shield by the United States and South Korea, which will start tomorrow.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had detected a missile launched from the waters off the North Korean eastern coastal city of Sinpo.
He did not immediately provide other details.
"While strengthening monitoring and surveillance, our military maintains a position of full readiness in close cooperation with the United States," the JCS said.
(HANDLE).