North Korea Claims to Have Successfully Tested a New 'Surface-to-Sea Cruise Missile'

North Korea, which has conducted a new missile test, claims to have successfully launched a 'new surface-to-sea cruise missile'. This is the fifth missile test by North Korea in less than a month. The latest missile test on June 8 comes less than a week after the tightening of sanctions against Pyongyang at the United Nations; a resolution published on June 2 was aimed at changing 'Pyongyang's aggressive behavior'. The official Korean Central News Agency announced on Friday morning that the country's army had 'successfully launched' a surface-to-sea cruise missile, which 'tracked and destroyed a floating target in the East Sea'. In both North and South Korea, the Sea of Japan is referred to as the East Sea. This is the fifth missile test by North Korea in less than a month. Since a liberal president took power in South Korea, competing with the conservative party, North Korea has tested three ballistic missiles, one surface-to-air missile, and now a cruise missile capable of targeting maritime objectives. Moon Jae-in, the new president of South Korea, is considered a supporter of dialogue with Pyongyang, although in recent weeks his government's approach towards the northern neighbor has hardened. On June 3, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis warned that North Korea's rapid advancements in nuclear weapons pose a 'clear and real' threat to the United States and other countries. At an international security meeting in Singapore, Mattis described North Korea as an 'immediate military threat' and emphasized that Washington intends to counter it. North Korea, which has repeatedly taken a hardline stance during U.S. military exercises with its neighbors, Japan and South Korea, claims these exercises are aimed at preparing for an attack on the country. The United States and its allies in East Asia reject these claims, stating that the exercises are defensive in nature. On Thursday, the 110-meter USS Shiloh submarine of the U.S. Army docked in Busan, South Korea. The deployment of this submarine from Pearl Harbor to South Korea is seen as part of U.S. efforts to enhance its military capabilities in the region. Over the past year and a half, North Korea has conducted dozens of missile tests and two nuclear tests. The UN Security Council has prohibited ballistic missile and nuclear tests in that country. In this context, the North Korean leader claims to have a 'bigger gift' for the United States.