North Korea again test-fires large calibre launcher

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has again guided a test firing of the new, large-calibre multiple rocket launcher, the country's official news agency KCNA reported today.

Kim expressed his satisfaction with the accuracy of the rockets used and lauded the officials and scientists involved for successfully producing the launching system.

The rocket launcher is "of great strategic importance in remarkably increasing the capability of the KPA (Korean People's Army) to mount a precision attack on the enemies in the southern part of Korea," KCNA reported Kim as saying.

Kim was accompanied by director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA Hwang Pyong So and chief of the KPA General Staff Ri Myong Su as well as other party and military officials.

The test firing came amid high tensions between the two Koreas as the Republic of Korea and the US are carrying out their large-scale military exercises. Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned and called for suspension of the war games, claiming they are "war rehearsals for northward invasion".

On Monday, North Korea fired five short-range projectiles that flew about 200 kilometres into its eastern seawaters, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

KCNA reported that the top leader also visited a remodelled factory under the KPA navy for repairing warships, where he emphasised the importance of developing the naval force and strengthening the country's coastal defence.

On 3 March, Kim guided the test-firing of the newly developed large-calibre multiple rocket launcher for the first time. When he watched the test, he ordered the military to be prepared to fire the deployed nuclear warheads at any time and stressed that the North Korea will continue to develop its nuclear weapons.