North Korea's missile launch on Monday was a major success in improving its weapons systems, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday.
"The Missile Administration announced that the technological upgrades to key components verified through the test represent a major achievement that heralds significant advances in the performance and precision of all offensive weapons systems," the KCNA said.
The agency said the launch was part of routine activities by the Missile Administration and its affiliated research institutes aimed at advancing weapons technologies.
Based on KCNA's report and photographs, the missile appeared to be an upgraded variant of the KN-23, one of North Korea's primary short-range ballistic missiles.
Pyongyang has continued to modify its KN-23 series this year, conducting test launches of new warhead types designed for various attack missions.
These include cluster munition warheads containing multiple submunitions, mine-dispensing warheads capable of scattering large numbers of land mines, and carbon-fiber warheads designed to disrupt enemy power grids by dispersing conductive fibers.
Meanwhile, the US Indo-Pacific Command said North Korea had launched two ballistic missiles Monday, offering a more specific count than South Korea's military.
"We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners," the command said in a statement.
"Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies," it added.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that North Korea had fired several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea.
The JCS assessed that the missiles traveled approximately 900 kilometers.
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com
