We develop the embedded gradient vector field method, introduced in [8] and [9], for the case of the special unitary group SU(N ) regarded as a constraint submanifold of the unitary group U(N ). The optimization problem associated to the trace fidelity cost function defined on SU(N ) that appears in the context of SU(N ) quantum control landscapes is completely solved using the embedded gradient vector field method. We prove that for N ≥ 5, the landscape is not SU(N )-trap free, there are always kinematic local extrema that are not global extrema.