Published: 09:16, September 19, 2024
DPRK test-fires new ballistic missile, improved strategic cruise missile
By Xinhua
This picture taken on Sept 18, 2024 and released from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's official Korean Central News Agency via KNS on Sept 19, 2024 shows the DPRK conducting a test launch of an improved strategic cruise missile at an undisclosed location. (PHOTO BY KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) 

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a new-type tactical ballistic missile and an improved strategic cruise missile on Wednesday, as the country's top leader called for bolstering up the military capability for self-defense when he guided the event, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.

The test-fire of the new-type tactical ballistic missile, called Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, was aimed at verifying the hitting accuracy at medium range of 320 km and explosive power of its payload of a 4.5 tonnage super-large conventional warhead, the KCNA said.

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The DPRK also test-fired a strategic cruise missile whose performance has been highly upgraded for its combat use, according to the report.

Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, said the security situation makes it an imperative for the country to bolster up the military capability for self-defense, the KCNA said.

The DPRK leader stressed the need to continue to bolster up the nuclear force and have the strongest military technical capability and overwhelming offensive capability in the field of conventional weapons, it added.