[Yonhap Photo]
The launch on Wednesday demonstrated North Korea's ability to stage an "all-out" attack on US forces in the Pacific Ocean, Kim was quoted as saying by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim also said the launch of strategic ballistic missiles named Hwasong-10 (Musudan) marked an "important" occasion in strengthening North Korea's nuclear attack capacity, it said.
[Yonhap News Photo]
One missile soared to a maximum altitude of 1,413.6 kilometers (876 miles) and fell precisely onto a designated target some 400 kilometers away, KCNA said, adding the exercise, watched by Kim, demonstrated North Korea's improved re-entry technology as the missile made a safe flight enduring the heat at the re-entry stage.
South Korea's initial assessment was that some technical progress appeared to have been made in Pyongyang's missile technology.
The North's nuclear and missile tests this year triggered tough UN sanctions. Earlier Kim claimed Pyongyang had already acquired re-entry technology, despite doubts about its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to be mounted on an inter-continental ballistic missile.
In March, Kim hailed the successful test of a solid-fuel missile engine. Solid fuel is more stable and convenient than liquid fuel, and scientists say it will help North Korea reduce the size and launch time of missiles. Seoul has accused Pyongyang of trying to develop technology related to mobile launch systems for ballistic missiles propelled by solid fuel.
The Musudan with an estimated range of more than 3,000 kilometers could reach as far as Guam. It was first revealed to the international community in a military parade in 2010.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
