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Released on March 13 by North Korean state media, this photo shows one of the reported two strategic cruise missiles fired from a submarine in the early hours of March 12. (KCNA/Yonhap)

On Monday, South Korea and the US kicked off their joint military exercises including large-scale field maneuvers for the first time in five years. The two countries are set to carry out around 20 drills by mid to late March while the arrival of a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and strategic bombers to the peninsula for training are also expected.

In response, North Korea fired a submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) on Sunday, one day before the start of the exercises. In the first official statement made by the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in two years, North Korea said it “solemnly declares once again that it will take the toughest counteraction against the most vicious hostile plots of the US and its followers to thoroughly defend the national sovereignty and rights and interests.”

It seems yet another tense March is forecast for the Korean Peninsula.

The Freedom Shield exercises that began on Monday are set to last for 11 days, through March 23. South Korea and the US are to carry out around 20 drills in this period, including the Ssangryong (“double dragon”) joint amphibious drill and joint special operation exercises, including Teak Knife drills.

The joint amphibious landing exercises are meant to simulate a scenario of South Korean and US marines landing on the North Korean coast and advancing into mainland North Korea, including Pyongyang. The Teak Knife surgical drills involve special forces from both the US and South Korea infiltrating the North and eliminating the leadership. Not surprisingly, North Korea holds a highly hostile view of these drills.

In addition, a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, submarine, strategic bombers, and Aegis-equipped destroyers are also set to arrive on the Korean Peninsula for the joint drills.

North Korea has already conducted its own show of force. On Sunday, it fired a cruise missile from a submarine for the first time, one day before the Freedom Shield exercises kicked off.

According to an article posted by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday, “an underwater launching drill of strategic cruise missiles was staged at dawn of March 12,” adding that “the submarine ‘8.24 Yongung’ launched two strategic cruise missiles in the water off Kyongpho Bay on the East Sea of Korea.”

The bay is located off the coast of Hongwon County in South Hamgyong Province on the eastern side of the country and is part of the waters around Sinpo.

While North Korea has fired submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in the past, Sunday marks the first time it tested a submarine-launched cruise missile.

Since such missiles are launched from the sea, they are difficult to detect or intercept in advance and are capable of hitting their target with precision. It’s clear to see that North Korea has diversified its launching platforms as well as the launch methods and locations for its missile tests.

According to KCNA, “the two strategic cruise missiles precisely hit the preset target in the waters to the east of Korea after traveling 1,500km-long eight-shaped flight orbits for 7,563 seconds to 7,575 seconds (2:06:03-2:06:15).

The article also stated that “the drill confirmed the reliability of the weapon system and examined the underwater-to-surface offensive operation posture of the submarine units that constitute one of the major components of the DPRK nuclear deterrent,” adding that the drill “successfully achieved” its objective.

The KCNA article concluded by stating that “the drill clearly showed the invariable stand of the Korean People's Army to control with its overwhelming powerful force all the time the present situation in which the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors are getting evermore undisguised in their anti-DPRK military maneuvers, and verified the regular operation posture of the nuclear war deterrence means in different spaces.”

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also confirmed on Monday that “an unknown missile launch from a submarine near Sinpo in South Hamgyong Province was detected on the morning of March 12.”

A Joint Chiefs official also stated that they were “looking into whether there is any exaggeration or deception in the performance of the submarine-launched cruise missile claimed by North Korea."

When asked if the Joint Chiefs failed to detect the test and, as a result, only announced it the following day, a key presidential office official said they were “observing the situation by monitoring 24 hours a day.”

According to Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, the missile test is “a direct corresponding measure to the South Korea-US joint drills and extended deterrence but also a response to South Korea-US-Japan military cooperation.” In his view, the test “also includes a message meant to alleviate domestic security concerns and for [internal] unity.”

The shows of force by North Korea had been anticipated.

On the day of the SLCM launch, North Korea held an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) presided over by its chairman, Kim Jong-un, and made reference to the South Korea-US joint exercises.

According to KCNA, the meeting discussed and adopted steps “for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent of the country.”

North Korea is expected to ramp up its retaliations in the following days through a possible inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch at normal angles (30-45 degrees) or through solid-propelled ICBM tests.

As such, tensions on the Korean Peninsula are expected to continue rising in March due to the vicious cycle of large joint military drills between South Korea and the US being met with North Korean armed provocations.

Meanwhile, North Korea also made clear its displeasure with the US and the international community for continuously raising the human rights issue.

Pyongyang’s stance was voiced through a statement published by the North Korean Foreign Ministry on KCNA on Monday.

“Timed to coincide with the large-scale U.S.-south Korea war exercises to be launched on March 13, the U.S., together with its followers, is scheming to coercively call an informal UN Security Council meeting to discuss the non-existent ‘human rights issue’ of the DPRK,” the statement read.

The statement added that the “heinous hostile acts” by the US “have reached a grave phase which can not be overlooked” and vowed to “take the toughest counteraction against the most vicious hostile plots of the U.S. and its followers.”

The last having come in September 2017, it has been five years and six months since the North Korean Foreign Ministry issued an official statement under the title “Statement by DPRK Foreign Ministry,” which far exceeds the level of “Statement by Spokesperson” of a ministry, which is how North Korean government statements are usually published on its media channels.

Reuters had previously reported that the UN Security Council would hold an informal meeting to discuss North Korean human rights issues on Friday.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry statement called the US using the human rights card “the most intensive expression of its hostile policy toward the DPRK,” saying the move “is no more than the most politically-motivated hostile means for tarnishing the image of the DPRK.”

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter; Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]