North Korea: Missile test was a ‘solemn warning’

Far East: Statement directed at South Korea’ s ‘military warmongers’

A day after two North Korean missile launches rattled Asia, the nation announced that its leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a new-type tactical guided weapon that was meant to be a “solemn warning” over South Korean weapons development and plans to hold military exercises.

South Korea’s military said that the flight data of the weapon launched on Thursday showed similarities to the Russianmade Iskander, a shortrange, nuclear-capable missile.

A North Korean version could likely reach all of South Korea – and the 28,500 US forces stationed there – and would be extremely hard to intercept.

The North Korean statement was carried in state media and directed at “South Korean military warmongers”.

It comes as US and North Korean officials struggle to set up talks after a recent meeting on the Korean border between Mr Kim and US president Donald Trump seemed to provide a step forward in stalled nuclear negotiations.

The statement made clear that North Korea is infuriated over Seoul’s purchase of US-made hi-tech fighter jets, and US-South Korean plans to hold military drills this summer that the North says are rehearsals for an invasion and proof of the allies’ hostility to Pyongyang.