Iran Press/ Asia: North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, the latest in a flurry of launches that the neighboring Republic of Korea decried as "inappropriate" amid the coronavirus pandemic
Sunday's test was designed "to verify once again the tactical and technological specifications of the launch system to be delivered to units of the Korean People's Army," the Korean Central News Agency said. "The test-fire was conducted successfully."
North Korea has carried out a series of weapons tests and artillery firing exercises this year. Except for small artillery firing drills, Sunday's launch marked the North's fourth major weapons test this month, with Kim Jong Un attending all of the previous three tests.
The latest test was guided by Ri Pyong-chol, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the country's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, the KCNA said.
He was quoted as saying, "The operational deployment of the weapon system of super-large multiple rocket launchers is a crucial work of very great significance in realizing a new strategic intention of the Party Central Committee for national defense."
Following the North's latest weapons test, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it is "very inappropriate" to carry out weapons tests as the world is grappling with COVID-19 and called for Pyongyang's immediate halt to such acts.
The move indicated the progress of Pyongyang's weapons development while denuclearisation negotiations with the United States remain in limbo.
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