North Korea said Wednesday it successfully test-fired a strategic cruise missile, part of a selection of recently launched weapons that analysts warn could be destined for Russia's war in Ukraine.
The North's state-run news agency said the missile, a "Hwasal-2", was fired into the West Sea on Tuesday.
The launch was first noted by Seoul's military, which said it had detected several cruise missiles.
KCNA said the drill was meant to check the army's "rapid counterattack posture" as well as improve "its strategic striking capability".
It added that the launch had "no adverse effect on the security" of neighbouring countries.
This month, Pyongyang has conducted tests of what it called an "underwater nuclear weapon system", a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile, and a new generation of strategic cruise missiles.
The Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missile has been test-fired before by the North.
Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions on Pyongyang.
Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.
Despite rafts of UN sanctions, Seoul and Washington say the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, has been shipping weapons to Russia, possibly in exchange for Moscow's technical assistance in Pyongyang's budding spy satellite programme.
The test launch also comes as relations between the two Koreas have sharply deteriorated, with Kim declaring Seoul his principal enemy.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
North Korean Diplomat Defects From Cuba To South Korea: Report North Korea Denounces Declaration At NATO Summit "Suicidal Hysteria": Kim Jong Un's Sister Hits Out At South Korea Military Drills Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Recalled To Academy, Training Put On Hold What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life Elon Musk To Move Companies Out Of California Over Transgender Law Four In Five Americans Fear Country Is Sliding Into Chaos: Polls Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 2.39 Lakh Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.