North Korea confirms railway-borne missile test amid US tension

Pyongyang's official news agency confirmed the successful launch of two ballistic missiles from a train and plans to set up missile operating systems across the country.

Friday's launches flew a distance of 430 kilometres (270 miles) at an altitude of 36 kilometres.
Reuters

Friday's launches flew a distance of 430 kilometres (270 miles) at an altitude of 36 kilometres.

North Korea’s state media has confirmed that the country has fired two railway-borne tactical missiles, the third weapons test this month despite a volley of new United States sanctions.

The tests were held to "check and judge the proficiency in the action procedures of the railway-borne regiment," Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency confirmed on Saturday.

Friday's launch "demonstrated high manoeuvrability and rate of hits," KCNA said.

"Issues were discussed to set up proper railway-borne missile operating system across the country," the report added.

South Korea's military said it had detected the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles Friday afternoon, just hours after Pyongyang accused the United States of "provocation" over fresh sanctions.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday's launches flew a distance of 430 kilometres (270 miles) at an altitude of 36 kilometres.

READ MORE: US imposes sanctions on North Korean officials after missile test

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'Pyongyang is trying to get attention'

It was Pyongyang's third weapons test this month, following what it called two successful tests of hypersonic missiles on January 5 and January 11.

In response, the United States imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang this week, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying North Korea was likely "trying to get attention" with the string of missile launches.

Dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang remains stalled, and impoverished North Korea is also under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade that has hammered its economy.

At a key meeting of North Korea's ruling party last month, leader Kim Jong Un vowed to continue building up the country's defence capabilities.

In response to the newly imposed sanctions, Pyongyang accused Washington of "intentionally escalating" the situation, saying it had a "legitimate right" to self-defence, a foreign ministry spokesman told state media.

North Korea test fired missiles from a train for the first time in September 2021.

READ MORE: North Korean hackers 'stole' $400M worth of cryptocurrency last year

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