North Korea test-fires new anti-aircraft missile

North Korea fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile on Thursday, state media KCNA reported on Friday, the latest in its recent series of weapons tests amid deadlocked denuclearization talks with the United States.It was North Korea’s second known weapons test this week after launching a previously unseen hypersonic missile on Tuesday. It has also fired ballistic missiles, and a cruise missile with potential nuclear capabilities in recent weeks.The tests highlight North Korea’s development of increasingly sophisticated weapons, raising the stakes for efforts to press it to give up its nuclear and missile programs in return for US sanctions relief.

North Korea’s “newly developed” anti-aircraft missile was test fired on September 30, according to state media.The Academy of Defense Science, a North Korean military weapons developer, said the test was aimed at confirming the practical functionality of the missile’s launcher, radar, comprehensive battle command vehicle and combat performance, according to the official KCNA news agency.

It added the missile has new key technologies such as twin rudder control and a double impulse flight engine.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have not attended the test, which was instead overseen by Pak Jong Chon, a member of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo and Central Committee.”The remarkable combat performance of the new-type anti-aircraft missile with features of rapid responsiveness and guidance accuracy of missile control system as well as the substantial increase in the distance of downing air targets has been verified,” KCNA said, citing the academy.