North Korea hails submarine ballistic missile launch moment of 'great significance'

North Korea has hailed a submarine launch of a ballistic missile to contain threats a moment of “great significance”.

Pyongyang’s test launch on Wednesday was its most provocative since it resumed denuclearisation talks with the US last year.

It stood as a reminder of the rogue state’s weapons capability that it has been aggressively developing, analysts said.

Dramatic photos showed the missile clearing the surface of the water as rocket engine ignited to propel it into the sky.

The North officially confirmed in the early hours of Thursday that it had successfully test-fired the new missile.

“The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," state news agency KCNA said.

The launch comes ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the US.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "sent warm congratulations" to the defence scientists who conducted the test, KCNA said.

The agencies statement indicated that Kim did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems.

The new type of SLBM, called Pukguksong-3, was "fired in vertical mode" in the waters off the eastern city of Wonsan, KCNA said.

Its statement confirmed an assessment by South Korea's military on Wednesday that the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory.

"The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," KCNA said.

DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The test "had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries," KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch.

A State Department spokeswoman called on Pyongyang to "refrain from provocations" and to remain committed to nuclear negotiations.

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North Korea 'tests missile' despite agreeing to fresh nuclear talks

South Korea expressed strong concern and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch, saying it was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea rejected UN Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology.

It said they are an infringement of its right to self-defence.

Talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes have been stalled since a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Vietnam in February broke down in disagreement over nuclear disarmament.

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