North Korea tests new air-defence missile system, KCNA says

North Korea test-fired a newly designed air-defence missile system and held a strategic cruise-missile strike drill on Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

South Korea's military said it detected several missiles launched from North Korea's Sondok area into the Sea of Japan.

KCNA said the air-defence missile test was conducted to confirm technical specifications. It said the test showed the projectile's reliability, target identification and tracking ability, and the reliability of a detection data processing device.

KCNA also said a firepower sub-unit of a long-range strategic cruise-missile unit in eastern North Korea staged a strike drill against a virtual airport target on Wednesday.

The latest report follows several North Korean weapons demonstrations in recent weeks, including cluster munitions, attack drones, a precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile. Unlike ballistic missile launches, North Korean cruise missile tests are not prohibited by UN Security Council sanctions.

Pyongyang has also hardened its stance toward Seoul and Washington, including during a landmine dispute that worsened inter-Korean relations. Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, this week signalled little appetite for renewed talks with the United States.