North Korea tests torpedo, plans early 2027 Navy service

North Korea says it tested a new high-speed torpedo in the East Sea on Monday and plans to bring the weapon into Navy service in early 2027, though it released no specifications or detailed evidence of its capabilities.

The Korean Central News Agency said the assessment of the torpedo’s combat effectiveness involved the Academy of Defense Sciences, the Missile Administration and the Torpedo Weapon Research Bureau. It described the test as part of the research bodies’ work to advance weapons technology. The account did not identify the launch platform or provide technical details.

The reported timeline sets an intended deployment roughly two months away. It does not establish that the torpedo is operational or that the planned entry into service will proceed as scheduled. The test details and deployment plan have been reported through North Korea’s official account, and independent verification of the weapon’s performance is not described.

A South Korean Unification Ministry official said the test appeared intended to showcase advances in North Korean naval capabilities and underwater weapons development. The official said further analysis was needed to assess the torpedo’s actual...