North Korea says it has tested a new weapon system that will increase the effectiveness of its tactical nuclear weapons.
The "new type of tactical guided missile" is of "great importance for drastically improving the firepower of the artillery units at the front and increasing the efficiency of the use of tactical nuclear weapons," reported the state news agency KCNA this Sunday.
According to this, ruler Kim Jong-un was present at the test.
It was initially unclear when exactly it took place.
However, Kim did give a military research team "important instructions on how to further expand defense capabilities and nuclear combat troops," KCNA reported.
Photos released by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed a grinning Kim applauding as he watched the weapon's test firing.
Last nuclear weapons test 2017
The United States had recently warned of a possible North Korean nuclear weapons test around North Korea's national day on April 15.
Pyongyang has not tested any nuclear weapons since 2017.
Most recently, however, ruler Kim had a whole series of missile tests carried out, and the military also fired an ICBM for the first time since 2017.
Satellite images also show signs of new activity in a tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
North Korea recently threatened South Korea with the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a pre-emptive attack.
The country celebrated republic founder Kim Il-sung's 110th birthday on Friday with a grand public procession, fireworks and synchronized dancing, but without the usual military parade.
North Korea has tested nuclear weapons six times since 2006, and in 2017 announced the success of its latest and most powerful test - a hydrogen bomb with an estimated yield of 250 kilotons.
Experts assume that Pyongyang is now concentrating on making the warheads smaller so that they can be mounted on its ICBMs.