North Korea has tested a new weapons system under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un aimed at enhancing the efficiency of its tactical nuclear weapons, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported early Sunday.
The official agency said that the new type of tactical guided weapon is of great importance in improving the firepower of long-range artillery units on the front lines and enhancing the operational efficiency of tactical nuclear weapons.
The Korean Central News Agency did not say when the test would take place, nor did it give details of the missiles that were launched.
The KCNA report added that Kim gave the military research team important instructions on further building defense capabilities and nuclear combat forces.
On the other hand, the South Korean armed forces said that North Korea fired two projectiles off its east coast towards the sea on Saturday evening.
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the projectiles were launched from the Hamhung area at 6 pm yesterday, and flew 110 kilometers.
Ankit Panda of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said that this weapon is likely to be a short-range ballistic missile and North Korea's first tactical system to launch nuclear weapons.
US and South Korean officials have reported activities at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site that could be preparations for a test, although the timing and nature of such a test is unclear.
US Special Representative Sung Kim is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Monday for a five-day visit, to discuss the response to North Korea's recent missile launches with his South Korean counterparts.
The United States has said it is ready to hold talks with North Korea at any time and without preconditions, but Pyongyang has so far rejected those initiatives, accusing Washington of sticking to hostile policies such as sanctions and military exercises.