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North Korean missile activity and nuclear program disputes

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2026-10-17 14:14 UTC → 2026-10-17 20:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

North Korea has escalated its ballistic missile activity following the conclusion of ‘Freedom Edge,’ a trilateral military exercise involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan. On September 12, North Korea conducted a large-scale joint live-fire drill, which the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed demonstrated the ‘huge destructive power of concentrated fire.’ Tensions were further exacerbated by landmine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21. While South Korea and the U.S.-led United Nations Command attributed the blasts to North Korean mines, Kim Yo Jong dismissed the claims as a ‘self-staged farce.’ On October 12, North Korea confirmed the test-firing of a tactical ballistic missile to upgrade offensive weapon systems. This was followed by reports on October 13 of ballistic missile launches toward the Sea of Japan, prompting a diplomatic protest from Japan. On October 14 and 15, North Korea conducted tests of two types of strategic cruise missiles launched from an underwater environment in its eastern waters. South Korean military officials noted these were launched via a vertical launch system and a torpedo tube, consistent with the capabilities of the 3,000-ton Hero Kim Kun Ok submarine. In a related development, North Korea successfully tested the Zam-2.0, a new super-speed, precision-guided torpedo system. State media described the system as incorporating artificial intelligence for target detection and guidance, marking a significant step in naval development following over 180 propulsion technology tests conducted over the last five years. The October 15 test, a collaborative effort involving the Defense Academy of Sciences, the Missile Administration, and the Torpedo Weapons Research Bureau, aimed to verify technical updates to the weapon and its propulsion. Analysts suggest the integration of AI could allow the torpedoes to distinguish real targets from decoys and potentially enable autonomous decision-making to evade defenses.

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