North Korea "tests launch of new torpedo in East Sea"... Deployed to the Navy early next year (comprehensive)

North Korea conducted a launch test of a new torpedo weapon jointly developed by defense science research institutes in the East Sea.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 10th, "The Academy of Defense Sciences, the General Missile Bureau, and the Torpedo Weapon Research Bureau verified the combat effectiveness of the new torpedo weapon system on the 9th."

The news agency said that this test is "part of the mandatory activities of defense scientific research institutes to advance the technology of weapon systems," and that the new torpedo weapon system will be equipped (actually deployed) to the Navy from early next year.

However, the specific specifications, performance, and launch platform of the torpedo were not mentioned. No related photos were released.

The news of the test launch was not published in domestic media such as Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, and was only reported on the Korean Central News Agency, an external media outlet.

Regarding this test launch, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “Our military is closely watching the North Korean military’s weapons development trends.”

On the 15th of last month, North Korea also test-fired a new high-speed, precision-guided torpedo weapon system called 'Zam-2.0' live ammunition.

At the time, North Korea claimed that artificial intelligence (AI) technology was introduced in the new torpedo for target search and guidance functions, and that the performance of the rocket propulsion device and the core technology to increase propulsion efficiency, which was completed through 180 tests over the past five years, were proven.

North Korea has recently put a lot of effort into strengthening its naval power, which was inferior to that of South Korea, and is pursuing the advancement of its underwater strike capabilities.

In his speech at the launch ceremony for a new 5,000-ton class destroyer in June last year, Chairman Kim Jong-un said, “Various surface and torpedo weapon systems are currently being researched and developed.”