North Korea Tests New Ultramodern Tactical Weapon

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un supervised the testing of a “newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon”, state media reported on Friday.

It marked the first official report of a weapons test by North Korea since it began a delicate diplomatic process with Washington over its nuclear and missile programme.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, quoting an unidentified government source, said the weapon could be a long-range cannon that the North has been developing for many years.

“Kim Jong Un… visited the test ground of the Academy of Defence Science and supervised a newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon test,” said the official Korean Central News Agency.

It said the test was successful but did not specify the type of device involved.

Hours after the KCNA report, the US State Department said it was “confident” the process remained on track.

“At the Singapore Summit, President Trump and Chairman Kim made a number of commitments regarding final, fully verified denuclearisation and creating a brighter future for North Korea,” a statement said.

“We are talking with the North Koreans about implementing all of those commitments. We remain confident that the promises made by President Trump and Chairman Kim will be fulfilled.”