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| This Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says a test firing of a super-large rocket launcher by the Academy of Defense Science in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) |
North Korea's official news agency said Friday that the country successfully tested a super-large multiple rocket launcher the previous day, adding that it verified the "perfection" of the weapons system.
On Thursday, South Korea's military said that the North fired two short-range projectiles from its western region toward the East Sea, saying both flew about 370 kilometers.
"The Academy of Defense Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea succeeded in another test-fire of super-large multiple rocket launchers on Thursday afternoon," the Korean Central News Agency said.
"The perfection of the continuous fire system was verified through the test-fire to totally destroy with super-power the group target of the enemy and designated target area by surprise strike of the weapon system of super-large multiple rocket launchers," the KCNA added.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed "satisfaction" over the test-firing and sent congratulations to the national defense scientists developing the "self-defensive military muscle of the country," it said.
Kim apparently did not supervise the weapons test.
Thursday's launch marked the 12th weapons test North Korea has conducted this year. It came about a month after the North said that it successfully test-fired a new-type of sea-based ballistic missile, saying the success "ushered in a new phase" in its self-defense capabilities.
The latest weapons test appears to be aimed at strengthening its diplomatic hand against the United States amid little progress in denuclearization negotiations.
North Korea and the U.S. resumed talks earlier last month after months of a stalemate caused by the breakdown of a summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in February. The talks fell apart again as the two sides failed to reconcile the gaps over how to match Pyongyang's denuclearization steps with Washington's sanctions relief.
The North has stepped up its calls for Washington to come up with a proposal acceptable to it before a year-end deadline set by its leader Kim. It said that it would not return to the negotiating table unless the U.S. drops its hostile policy, apparently demanding security guarantees and lifting of sanctions imposed against its regime.
Thursday's weapons test also came a day after North Korean leader Kim sent a condolence message over the death of President Moon Jae-in's mother, a surprise move that had briefly raised hope for the possibility of Pyongyang softening its stance on Seoul.
Inter-Korean ties have been at an impasse amid little progress in denuclearization negotiations.
In a recent setback and apparent indication of Pyongyang's frustration with the lack of progress in cross-border projects due to global sanctions, North Korea last week asked South Korea to remove its facilities built for a long-suspended joint tour program to Mount Geumgang on its east coast, saying that it will build its own international tourism zone there.
The decision is a follow up on North Korean leader Kim's directive to destruct all "unpleasant-looking" South Korean facilities there. On Monday, the South offered to hold working-level talks about the issue, but the North turned the proposal down the following day. (Yonhap)
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