On the eve of U.S. President Trump's visit to South Korea, North Korea's Missile General Bureau conducted a test-firing of sea-to-ground strategic cruise missiles in the western sea area of North Korea on the 28th.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 29th that the improved cruise missiles are used for shipboard launches and employ a vertical launch method. Multiple cruise missiles flew along the predetermined trajectory over the western sea area for a total of over 7,800 seconds, destroying the targets.
However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend the test-firing on the 28th.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is about to open. On the 29th, Trump will visit South Korea to attend summit-related activities and meet with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
Trump previously stated that he would be "very willing to meet" Kim Jong Un during his visit to the Korean Peninsula this week, but North Korea has not made any response.