North Korea tests intermediate-range missile, Kim Jong-un calls for continued weapons development

SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile and called for continued efforts to bolster the fatality of the country's offensive weapons, state media reported Sunday.

North Korea conducted a drill of firing the missile toward the East Sea at dawn Saturday as part of efforts to train missile troops operating the hypersonic strategic weapon system, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim said developing the country's strategic weapons is "indispensable" for protecting national security and stability in the current geopolitical environment.

"We must continue our responsible efforts nonstop to constantly and repeatedly make the enemy recognize the reliability and fatality of our strategic offensive means," the North's leader was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

"This is a form of exercising deterrent," he said, noting that such a missile launch is aimed at "more rapidly developing the country's nuclear war deterrent."

The KCNA said the missile, launched toward the northeast, hit a target 1,000 kilometers away from the East Sea.

The South Korean military earlier said it detected North Korea firing a ballistic missile toward the East Sea early Saturday morning from the Wonsan area and it flew over 700km.

Less than 12 hours of the launch, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, disclosed the firing late Saturday. She claimed military authorities of South Korea and Japan failed in tracking the trajectory of the missile due to the limitation of their tracking capabilities.

(END)