North Korea declared on Monday that its medium-range Pukguksong-2 missile is ready for deployment after it conducted a test over the weekend. This is the latest step in Pyongyan's quest to strengthen its nuclear and ballistic missile programme, in defiance of UN sanctions.
The North is developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the United States.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday said the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the successful launch of the missile on Sunday. The agency's statement has sparked fresh international condemnation, particularly from the US, Japan and South Korea, as the North faces fresh threats of tougher sanctions against it.
The missile, which was tested on Sunday, was the Pukguksong-2, which uses solid fuel that allows for immediate firing, according to KCNA . North Korea's missiles so far have been liquid-fuelled, which have to be filled with propellant before launch, while solid fuel missiles can be fired far more rapidly.
The new missile would dramatically shorten the time available for any attempt to intervene and prevent a launch, requiring any such decision to be taken much more quickly, according to AFP.
South Korea's military officials have earlier said the Pukguksong-2, which is a land-based version of Pyongyang's submarine-launched weapon, uses solid fuel.
North Korean leader said Pukguksong-2 was a "very accurate" missile and a "successful strategic weapon", adding that he "approved the deployment of this weapon system for action", KCNA reported.
The agency also released pictures of the Earth claimed to be taken from the rocket in space.
Kim said "he was very happy to see pictures of the Earth taken by our rocket and that the world looks beautiful", KCNA said adding that he ordered the missile to be "rapidly mass-produced".
