N. Korea reports test-firing of 'tactical ballistic missile'

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile as part of efforts to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, state media reported Tuesday.

The report came a day after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea.

The North's missile administration "test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on October 12 to confirm the success in the research for the technical upgrading of an important core element," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The administration claimed that the upgrade "was a big success heralding an important change in improving the performance and sophistication of all offensive weapon systems," the KCNA said, describing the test as part of its regular activities.