North Korea’s cruise missile test

In news– North Korea has tested a new long-range cruise missile recently.

About the new cruise missile-

The recent tests saw missiles travelling up to 1,500km (930 miles).
Technically it already had cruise missiles, albeit a shorter range anti-ship system, the Kumsong-3 (KN-SS-N-2 Stormpetrel) based on the Soviet Kh-35.
Hence, this is not the first cruise missile test by the country.
However, it is North Korea’s first long-range (1,000 km+) cruise missile and first claimed nuclear-capable cruise missile.
The Academy of National Defense Science conducted long-range cruise missile tests in North Korea.

UNSC Sanctions

UN Security Council sanctions forbid North Korea from testing ballistic missiles, but not cruise missiles such as these.
The council considers ballistic missiles to be more threatening than cruise missiles because they can carry bigger and more powerful payloads, have a much longer range, and can fly faster.
A ballistic missile is powered by a rocket and follows an arc-like trajectory, while a cruise missile is powered by a jet engine and flies at a lower height.

What are Cruise missiles?

Cruise missiles are fast-moving, guided bombs that soar at a very low trajectory, parallel to the ground.
They are distinct from regular (non-cruise) missiles primarily because they go really far and all such missiles have an internal guidance system.
These missiles differ from ballistic missiles in that they are designed to travel within the earth’s atmosphere and aerodynamically maneuver for most of their flight time.
Most cruise missiles use a small, solid- propellant rocket booster, which allows them to gain enough altitude and speed for the onboard sustainer engine to take over.

What is a ballistic missile?

A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods most of the flight is unpowered.
Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.