Kim inspects test of unspecified new ‘tactical weapon’

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a “newly developed high-tech tactical” weapon, state media said on Friday, without specifying what kind of weapon was tested.

North Korea has suspended nuclear and missile tests as it endeavors to improve relations with the outside world, and there was no indication that this weapon was nuclearrelated or a missile.

The U.S. State Department said it remained confident that promises made by Kim at his summit meeting with President Donald Trump in Singapore in June would be fulfilled.

Nevertheless, the announcement marked the first time Kim had made a high-profile visit to a military site since that summit, and the first announcement of any weapons test this year. It comes as Washington’s diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program appear to have stalled.

Kim announced earlier this year that he is focused on economic rather than military development, and his inspection tours have reflected this, until now.

The official Korean Central News Agency said this week’s test, which took place at the Academy of National Defense Science, was successful and that Kim couldn’t suppress his “passionate joy.”

“This result today is a justification of the party’s policy focused on defense science and technology, another display of our rapidly growing defense capabilities to the whole region, and a groundbreaking change in strengthening our military’s combat capabilities,” Kim said.