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US detects ‘highly unusual’ North Korean submarine activity

A “highly unusual and unprecedented levels” of North Korean submarine activity with the evidence of an “ejection test” have been detected by the US military.

The US has observed the activities in the days following Pyongyang’s second intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, CNN quoted a defence official as saying.

An ejection test examines a missile’s “cold-launch system”, which uses high-pressure steam to propel a missile out of the launch canister into the air before its engines ignite.

That helps prevent flames and heat from the engine from damaging either the submarine or any nearby equipment used to launch the missile.

Sunday’s test is the third time in July that North Korea has conducted a trial of the missile component that is critical to developing submarine launch capabilities, said the official.

US officials also said a North Korean Sang-O submarine was operating in the Yellow Sea and the length of its deployment was notable.

Two Romeo submarines were detected in the waters off Japan each one operating in the area for about a week.

North Korea last year conducted its first successful submarine missile test, firing a missile called the KN-11 or Pukguksong-1.

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