North Korea announced that on Monday it test‑fired a new high‑speed torpedo in waters off its east coast, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported in a statement that the test confirmed the weapon’s combat effectiveness. The Xinhua news agency carried the story, noting the weapon was jointly developed by the country’s defence scientific research institutes and will be commissioned into the navy beginning in 2027.
According to KCNA, the torpedo was designed with advanced propulsion that allows it to travel at speeds higher than previous models, a capability that the agency said would extend the navy’s operational reach. The agency also indicated that the system incorporates precision‑guidance features and new sensors to enhance target acquisition.
Both Xinhua and KCNA emphasized that the test followed a series of earlier trials, with the most recent involving a prototype called Zam‑2.0, defined by Pyongyang as a “super‑speed” precision‑guided torpedo that uses artificial intelligence to adapt its trajectory. KCNA reiterated that the device was successfully combat‑tested in the East Sea, confirming its effectiveness under live‑fire conditions.
South‑korean media outlet KBS World Radio reported the same information, noting the test was conducted off the east‐coast and that the navy plans to deploy the torpedo system starting early next year. Neither KBS nor Xinhua provide independent verification external to North Korean state media.
As of now, no independent observers or third‑party defence analysts have released statements confirming the torpedo’s operational status, leaving international assessment of the new weapon to rely on the reports released by North Korean state media and the Xinhua news agency.
