In brief
North Korea announced that a high‑speed torpedo was successfully test‑fired off its east coast. The weapon, developed by DPRK defence science institutes, is slated for entry into the navy in early 2027, according to state media and a Reuters‑style report.
On Monday, November 9, 2026, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the country had test‑fired a new high‑speed torpedo off the east coast of the DPRK. The test was said to verify the torpedo’s combat effectiveness.
Xinhua attributed the confirmation to a joint development effort by DPRK defence scientific research institutes. The report added that the system is scheduled to be commissioned into the navy from the beginning of 2027.
An additional report from the Philippine news site Inquirer.net echoes the same details, noting the torpedo’s high‑speed design and its planned early‑2027 deployment.
The tests represent a step in the DPRK’s ongoing effort to modernise its naval weapons. The new system’s introduction is expected to increase the navy’s offensive capabilities at sea.
