North Korea confirmed it fired two short-range rockets Thursday, Pyongyang's 12th such launch this year, as it ramps up pressure on the U.S. ahead of its end-of-year deadline for nuclear talks.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday local time the "successful" test of a "super-large" multiple rocket launcher system. Following similar tests this year, U.S. officials categorized the weapon as a short-range ballistic missile.
KCNA says the latest launch was meant to "verify the security of (the) launcher's continuous fire system." It was not overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, KCNA 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," KCNA reported.
The projectiles, which were launched from the Suncheon region of South Pyongan province, flew about 370 kilometers and reached an altitude of about 90 kilometers, South Korea's military said.
Source : VOA