Kim Jong Un attends the launches, stressing the need for North Korea to improve its conventional and nuclear capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the successful tests of two types of tactical ballistic missiles, including one with a “super-large conventional warhead” and an “upgraded” cruise missile, according to North Korean state media.
The tests were a response to the “grave threat” posed by external forces to North Korea's security, Kim said Thursday, according to state news agency KCNA.
The tests were carried out with Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 missiles, equipped with a large 4.5-ton conventional warhead, KCNA reported. North Korea had already announced tests with such a weapon in July.
Kim stressed “the need to continue strengthening the nuclear force and to have the strongest military technical capability and an overwhelming offensive capability also in the field of conventional weapons.”
South Korea's military and several political analysts have suggested that North Korea is testing weapons with a view to exporting them to Russia.
Pyongyang, which is subject to major international sanctions over its weapons programme, has denied trade with Russia but has strengthened military ties with Moscow.
Kim met President Vladimir Putin in eastern Russia last year, while Putin visited Pyongyang in June and the two leaders signed a mutual defense agreement.
Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu was also in Pyongyang last week.
Photos released by the KCNA news agency showed Kim watching the latest tests, as well as a missile that hit a ground target. South Korea's military said later on Thursday it had assessed that ballistic and cruise missiles fired by North Korea the previous day had landed in the country's mountainous northeastern region.
North Korea routinely tests missiles off its east coast, which then fall into the sea.
