North Korea fires cruise missiles from a submarine as October launches mount

North Korea test-fired two types of missiles off its eastern coast, adding to a series of weapons tests this month, according to state-run media. North Korea tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles on Oct. 14, 2026, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA) North Korea test-fired two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles off its eastern coast Wednesday, adding to a series of weapons tests this month, according to state-run media. The launches were intended to assess the readiness of the North Korean navy’s combat systems, strengthen its ability to carry out strategic missions and demonstrate its deterrence capabilities, the Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. The report did not identify the submarine or disclose how far the missiles flew.

It said the launches “did not have any adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries.” South Korea’s military confirmed tracking the launches and said the missiles appeared to have been fired from two types of launch tubes. “We understand that one type [of missile] was launched from a vertical launch tube, while the other was launched from a torpedo tube,” Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Capt. Jang Do-young told reporters Thursday in Seoul. “The South Korean military continuously detected and tracked the North Korean cruise missiles launched yesterday, monitoring their movements before launch, during flight and