NKOREA 'READY' TO DEPLOY MISSILES

North Korea says it's ready to deploy and start mass-producing a new medium-range missile capable of reaching Japan and major U.S. military bases there following a test launch it claims confirmed the missile's combat readiness and is an "answer" to President Donald Trump's policies.

The solid-fuel Pukguksong-2 missile flew about 500 kilometers and reached a height of 560 kilometers Sunday before plunging into the Pacific Ocean.

Trump, traveling in Saudi Arabia, had no immediate public comment.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the launch and watched from an observation post, state media reported Monday.

The Korea Central News Agency said the test verified technical aspects of the weapon system and examined its "adaptability under various battle conditions" before it is deployed to military units.

Kim reportedly said the launch was a success, "approved the deployment of this weapon system for action" and said that it should "be rapidly mass-produced."

Solid-fuel missiles have their fuel loaded in them before being moved into place, allowing them to be launched faster and with more secrecy. Liquid-fuel missiles, on the other hand, are fueled at the launch site in a process that can last an hour and requires fueling and other vehicles, making it easier to spot them.

North Korea has significantly speeded up its missile tests over the past year and appears to be making tangible progress toward developing an arsenal that poses a threat not only to South Korea and Japan, but also toward an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

It's moving ahead with its nuclear weapons program as well as it conducted two nuclear tests last year. It claims one was a hydrogen bomb and the other device created a more powerful explosion.

Satellite imagery suggests it could be ready to conduct its sixth test at virtually any time.

Pyongyang's often-stated goal is to perfect a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of hitting Washington or other U.S. cities.

North Korea's media, meanwhile, have stepped up their calls for even more missile launches because of what Pyongyang claims is an increasingly hostile policy by President Donald Trump.

"The Trump administration would be well advised to lend an ear to the voices of concern that are heard from the U.S. and the international community," the North's Minju Joson newspaper said in a commentary Sunday. "Many more 'Juche weapons' capable of striking the U.S. will be launched from this land. This is the DPRK's answer to the Trump administration.'"

"Juche," in this usage, refers to domestically produced and DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.