North Korea ramps up nuclear pressure with third rocket test

North Korea has confirmed it conducted its third test-firing of a new ‘super-large’ multiple rocket launcher.

North Korea test fires a super-large rocket launcher on Thursday. Picture: KCNA via AP

North Korea has confirmed it conducted its third test-firing of a new “super-large” multiple rocket launcher that it says expands its ability to destroy enemy targets in surprise attacks, as it continues to expand its military capabilities while pressuring Washington over a standstill in nuclear negotiations.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency described the tests a day after the South Korean­ and Japanese militaries said they detected two projectiles launched from an area near the North Korean capital travelling more than 330km cross-country before landing in waters off the North’s east coast.

Experts say the North could continue to ramp up weapons demonstrations ahead of an end-of-year deadline set by leader Kim Jong-un for the US to offer mut­ually acceptable terms to salvage a fragile diplomacy strained by dis­agreements over exchanging sanc­­tions relief and disarmament steps.

Thursday’s launches followed statements of displeasure by top North Korean officials over the slow pace of nuclear negotiations with the US and demands that the administration of Donald Trump ease crippling sanctions and pressure on their country.

KCNA said Kim expressed satisfaction over what North Korea called a successful test of its new rocket artillery system, but it wasn’t clear whether the leader observed the launches on site. The North also tested the system in August and September. The latest test verified the “perfection” of the system’s continuous firing ability that allegedly allows it to “totally destroy” enemy targets with “super power,” the agency said.

Earlier this month, the North test-fired an underwater-launched ballistic missile for the first time in three years. It has also tested new short-range ballistic missile and rocket artillery systems­ in recent months in what experts saw as an effort to use the standstill in talks to advance its military capabilities while increasing its bargaining power.

Negotiations have faltered after the collapse of a February summit between Kim and Mr Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the US rejected North Korean demands­ for broad sanctions relief in exchange for piecemeal progress toward partially surrendering its nuclear capabilities.

The North responded with intensifie­d testing activity while Kim said he would “wait with patienc­e until the end of the year for the United States to come up with a courageous decision”.

Washington and Pyongyang resumed working-level discussion in Sweden last month, but the meeting broke down amid ­acrimony, with the North Koreans calling the talks “sickening” and accusing the Americans of maintaining an “old stance and ­attitude”.

AP