North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic
missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defense, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States.
The launch on Wednesday was the most provocative by
North Korea since it resumed dialogue with the
United States in 2018 and a reminder by
Pyongyang of the weapons capability it has been aggressively developing, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, analysts said.
North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un "sent warm congratulations" to the defense scientists who conducted the test, state news agency KCNA said, indicating he did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems.