North Korea test-fires tactical ballistic missile to improve weapons systems, calls test a ‘big success’

North Korea has testfired a tactical ballistic missile to improve a key component of its weapons systems describing the test as a ldquobig successrdquo state media reported on TuesdayThe announcement came a day after South Korearsquos Joint Chiefs of Staff JCS detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East SeaAccording to the Korean Central News Agency KCNA North Korearsquos missile administration conducted the test on October 12 to assess improvements to an important component of its weapons technologyNorth Korea claims improvement in missile capabilitiesThe missile administration ldquotestfired a tactical ballistic missile on October 12 to confirm the success in the research for the technical upgrading of an important core elementrdquo Yonhap reported citing KCNAThe administration described the upgrade as ldquoa big success heralding an important change in improving the performance and sophistication of all offensive weapon systemsrdquoNorth Korea did not disclose further details about the missile its specifications or the precise nature of the technological improvements State media described the test as part of the countryrsquos regular activitiesSouth Korea analyses missile launchesSouth Korearsquos JCS said North Korea had launched multiple types of ballistic missiles with one travelling more than 900 kilometres South Korean and US authorities were analysing the specifications of the projectilesldquoThey may have fired a shortrange ballistic missile at maximum range or it is also possible that they fired a mediumrange ballistic missile at a reduced rangerdquo JCS spokesperson Capt Jang Doyoung said during a press briefing on TuesdayShortrange ballistic missiles generally have a range of 300 to 1000 kilometres while mediumrange ballistic missiles typically cover distances of 1000 to 3000 kilometresJang reiterated that South Korea and the United States maintained a strong combined defence posture and were ldquofully capablerdquo of detecting and intercepting North Korean missilesJapan and US confirm missile activityJapanrsquos Defence Ministry said North Korea had fired at least two ballistic missiles on Monday One travelled approximately 220 kilometres while the other covered more than 910 kilometresUS Pacific Command PACOM also said Mondayrsquos launches involved two ballistic missilesThe launches marked North Korearsquos 16th ballistic missile launch of the year according to the report and came nine days after its previous launch on October 3Launches follow South Korearsquos hypersonic weapons testThe latest North Korean launches came four days after South Korea announced the successful testfiring of a domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle HGV President Lee Jae Myung attended the eventHypersonic weapons travel at speeds of Mach 5 or faster and can manoeuvre along unconventional trajectories potentially making them more difficult to track and interceptSouth Korearsquos disclosure of the test was viewed as a demonstration of its deterrence capabilities amid tensions with North Korea The announcement followed a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone DMZ on September 21 that injured three South Korean soldiersWith inputs from IANS