The Academy of Defence Sciences of the DPRK successfully test-fired newly developed long-range cruise missiles on September 11 and 12.

Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, inspected the test-launches together with Kim Jong Sik and Jon Il Ho, deputy department directors of the Party Central Committee.

Leading officials and scientists in the field of defence science took part in the tests.

The development of the long-range cruise missile, a strategic weapon of great significance in meeting the key target of the five-year plan for the development of the defence science and weapon system set forth at the Eighth Congress of the WPK, had been pushed forward according to the scientific and reliable weapon system development process for the past two years and, in that course, detailed partial tests, dozens of static firing tests of motors, various flight tests, control and guidance tests, warhead power tests, etc. were conducted with success.

The development of the weapon system that has been pushed as a crucial undertaking under the special concern of the Party Central Committee has the strategic significance of possessing another effective means of deterrence for more reliably guaranteeing the security of the state and tightly containing the military manoeuvres of the hostile forces against the DPRK.

The tests were carried out successfully.

The missiles flew for 7 580 seconds along an ellipse and 8-type trajectory in the air above the territory and territorial waters of the DPRK to hit targets 1 500 kilometres away.

The trials showed that the technical indices including the thrust of the newly developed turbine-blast engine, the missiles' flight manoeuvrability and the terminal guidance accuracy by the combined guidance method fully met the requirements of the designs.

In all, the efficiency and practicality of the weapon system operation was confirmed to be excellent.

Pak Jong Chon, upon authorization of the Party Central Committee, conveyed warm congratulations and thanks to the scientists in the field of defence science and munitions workers for the successful development of the long-range cruise missiles.

The achievement is a successful outcome of our Party's policy of prioritizing defence science and technology and a signal success made in the defence field which has made strenuous efforts to implement the decisions of the Eighth Congress of the Party, he noted, adding that this is another great manifestation of the tremendous capabilities of the defence science and technology and munitions industry of the DPRK.

He stressed the need for the field of the defence science to go all out to increase the defence capabilities and war deterrent of the country and keep making achievements in reaching the grand long-term targets of securing war deterrent set forth at the Eighth Party Congress.