North Korea Test-Fires Sophisticated Anti-Ship Missile
North Korea has test-fired a new a new "ultra-precision" intelligent anti-ship cruise missile demonstrating the increased capability of its naval forces.
The exercise was carried out by its East Sea fleet, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Images published by Pyongyang's newspaper today also showed leader Kim Jong-un observing the missile being fired from a small naval vessel.
"The ultra-precision anti-ship rocket blasted off from a rocket boat. The intelligent rocket precisely sought, tracked and hit the 'enemy' ship after taking a safe flight," KCNA said, without giving a location or date.
The rocket would soon be deployed across North Korea's navy, it said.
The missile has been touted by state media as a "new type of cutting-edge anti-ship rocket" that should "bring a great change to the navy's defense of territorial waters."
The North's leader, Kim Jong-un, has called for the production of "more tactical guided weapons of high precision and intelligence".
"North Korea is demonstrating the reinforced capabilities of its navy. It appears the North wants to strengthen unity within its military as it has declared 2015 as a year for (quote) the 'completion of a great war for unification." said the agency.
Pyongyang has boosted the number of its military drills in recent weeks, in its usual routine of seeking to raise tensions ahead of the annual joint military drills between South Korea and United States.
