World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
North Korea tests new high-speed torpedo, plans 2027 deployment
North Korea tested a new high-speed torpedo in the East Sea on Monday, according to state media.
The test involved the country’s defense science and weapons research bodies, which said they verified the system’s combat effectiveness.
Pyongyang plans to deploy the torpedo with its Navy in early 2027.
North Korea has not released details about the weapon’s specifications.
The test is part of a wider effort to strengthen North Korea’s naval forces, including recent tests of other weapons and the commissioning of two destroyers this year.
Last month, North Korea also tested a precision-guided torpedo that it said uses artificial intelligence.
The planned deployment would add another weapon to its naval arsenal, but the sources provide no further details about the timetable or how the torpedo will be used.
North Korea said it tested a new high-speed torpedo system in the East Sea on November 9.
State media said the test verified the system’s combat effectiveness.
North Korea plans to deploy the torpedo with its Navy in early 2027.
The country gave no further specifications for the weapon.
A South Korean unification ministry official said the test appeared intended to showcase North Korea’s strengthened naval power and underwater weapons systems.
- Who
- North Korea’s defense research bodies conducted the test.
- What
- North Korea tested a new high-speed torpedo weapon system.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
- Why
- North Korea described the test as part of required defense research to advance weapons technology. A South Korean official said it appeared aimed at showcasing stronger naval power and underwater weapons systems.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
North Korea tested the AI-equipped Zam-2.0 high-speed precision-guided torpedo system.
North Korea conducted a test of its new high-speed torpedo system in the East Sea.
North Korean state media reported the test and said the system was planned for Navy deployment in early 2027.
North Korea plans to deploy the new torpedo system with its Navy.
- Test date
- November 9, 2026
- Test location
- East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan
- Planned deployment
- Early 2027
- Torpedo specifications
- Not disclosed
- Prior testing cited by North Korea
- More than 180 rounds of different tests over five years
5 sources
What people are saying
verified the combat effectiveness
more than 180 rounds of different tests over the past five years
showing off its strengthened naval power and improved underwater weapons systems that the North has been emphasizing lately
is rising into a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means as the program of equipping the Navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly