10,000 Seconds in Flight: North Korea Strategic Cruise Missile Launch 2025 Signals Hardline Stance

It's a clear message from Pyongyang as the year closes. North Korea has tested its strategic counterattack capability with a flight time exceeding 10,000 seconds. Leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea on December 28, 2025, calling for the 'unlimited and sustained' development of the state's nuclear combat forces.

Strategic Impact of North Korea Strategic Cruise Missile Launch 2025

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missiles followed preset orbits for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds before striking their targets. The drill was designed to demonstrate the 'absolute reliability' of the North's strategic counterattack capability. Kim Jong-un emphasized the need to regularly check the rapid response of nuclear deterrent components in the face of evolving security threats.

The South Korean military detected the launch from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at approximately 8 a.m. on Sunday. Officials in Seoul suggest that the North might conduct additional tests before the year ends, likely to tout defense achievements ahead of a major party congress scheduled for next year.

Rising Naval Tensions and Nuclear Submarines

This latest provocation follows Kim's inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine currently under construction. He warned that South Korea's plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines—backed by a recent stand-alone pact with the U.S.—is a threat that 'must be countered.' The cruise missile test is seen by analysts as a direct response to the strengthening naval cooperation between Seoul and Washington.