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| This undated picture released by DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 14, 2016 sh ows DPRK leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspecting the Paektusan architectural institute in Pyongyang. (KCNA / AFP) |
The test-firing was conducted under simulated conditions of launching preemptive strikes at the ports and airfields in the Republic of Korea (ROK) where the US nuclear hardware is to be mobilized, the KCNA said in a statement.
The test also "examined the operational features of the detonating devices of nuclear warheads mounted on the ballistic rockets at the designated altitude over the target area," the statement reads.
Kim was satisfied with the test result and instructed to ensure the speed and security of the operation of nuclear attack system and develop diversified ballistic rockets.
The date and place of the test-firing was not given by the state media.
The ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday that the DPRK fired off three ballistic missiles, which are believed to have been a Scud-C type, from the western region of Hwangju in North Hwanghae province between 5:45 am and 6:05 am Seoul time.
The missiles traveled about 500 to 600 km, making them able to hit the entire ROK region, said the JCS.
The test-launch came six days after Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year.
The DPRK's military threatened to take "physical measures" against THAAD when the deployment site is determined in response to the THAAD deployment decision.
Meanwhile, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday that Pyongyang appeared to have been in a state of preparing another nuclear test given increased activity in its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site where the country carried out four underground nuclear tests since 2006.
