The launching of a missile from an undisclosed location in North Korea is seen in this undated photo provided by the North Korean government April 17. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the successful test-firing of a new tactical guided missile meant to improve the efficiency of nuclear operations, Pyongyang's state media announced Sunday. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the successful test-firing of a new tactical guided missile meant to improve the efficiency of nuclear operations, Pyongyang's state media announced Sunday.

The new weapon system is "of great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the frontline long-range artillery units and enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nuclear weapons of the DPRK and diversification of their firepower missions," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The test-fire was carried out successfully," it added without giving other details of the tested weapon, including its type.

South Korea's military said later that it detected the North's launch of two missiles into the East Sea at 6 p.m. Saturday. They flew 110 kilometers at an apogee of around 25 km and a top speed of Mach 4, it added.

Immediately after the launches, the presidential National Security Office, military and intelligence agencies held an emergency meeting to discuss them, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Observers here say the North seems to have tested a newly developed heavy artillery system or upgraded KN-23 missiles ― its own version of the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

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Photos released by the KCNA show that the transporter erector launcher (TEL) has two tubes, while the tactical weapon itself bears an external resemblance to the KN-23 missile, modeled after Russia's Iskander ballistic missile. The North might have modified the missile to fit several into multiple TEL tubes.

The KN-23 is known to have a flight range of 400 km to 600 km that can target most of South Korea. Rather than following a general parabolic trajectory, the missile shows a more complicated path by doing a so-called pull-up maneuver over the course of its flight.

Observing the latest launches, Kim gave important instructions on "further building up the defense capabilities and nuclear combat forces of the country," the KCNA reported.

Kim "highly praised" the national defense scientific research sector for its "continuous successes in attaining the core goals of securing the war deterrent" set forth at the eighth party congress last year.

He then clarified that the long-term plan for the ruling party's central committee is to bolster up the defense capabilities of the country.

During the Workers' Party congress in January last year, the North laid out plans to advance its weapons, including developing tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic gliding flight warheads, nuclear-powered submarines and reconnaissance satellites, among others.

The North's latest weapons test comes as South Korea and the United States prepare to kick off their major springtime combined exercises Monday. Concerns have grown that Pyongyang may conduct another nuclear test in the near future.

This marks the country's 13th known flight test of missiles this year, and the first since Pyongyang launched what it claimed was a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month.

On Friday, the North also commemorated the 110th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung with massive celebratory events, but there have been no reports of a military parade. (Yonhap)