(Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)
[Anchor]
North Korea says it successfully test fired newly developed long-range cruise missiles over the weekend.
It's the first known testing activity by the North in months and comes as nuclear dialogue between the North and the United States has been stalled for more than two and a half years.
Ron Chang reports.
[Reporter]
The test launches of a new long-range cruise missile, as reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, underscore how the North Korean regime continues to expand its military capabilities, despite international sanctions, pandemic border closures and even food shortages.
According to the KCNA, the missile had been under development for two years.
Analysts believe the latest tests intended to demonstrate the North is still expanding its weapons arsenal without violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The North is banned from using ballistic technology under multiple resolutions.
Cruise missiles are not subject to the sanctions because they are considered less of a threat.
But experts warn against downplaying the latest launches as the new missiles showed the ability to hit targets 1,500 kilometers away.
That means they could reach anywhere in South Korea and neighboring Japan.
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