TOKYO, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- North Korea on Wednesday confirmed the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan on the previous day, calling it a "meaningful prelude" to containing the US Pacific territory of Guam.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the launch of the Hwasong-12 missile on Tuesday, which was conducted during a drill aimed at countering ongoing military drills by South Korea and the US, the country's official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim was cited as saying that the latest firing was "the first step of the military operation of the Korean People's Army in the Pacific and a meaningful prelude to containing Guam." Expressing "great satisfaction over the successful launch," Kim also said said it is "necessary to positively push forward the work for putting the strategic force on a modern basis by conducting more ballistic rocket launching drills with the Pacific as a target in the future," according to the report.
North Korea will continue to watch the US' words and behavior and determine the future course of action, he warned.
North Korea fired the missile on Tuesday, which traveled about 2,700 kilometers after crossing over the northern Japan before falling into the Pacific Ocean, according to the Japanese government.
The provocation came after North Korea threatened earlier this month to fire four ballistic missiles into the sea near Guam, about 3,000 kilometers southeast of North Korea.
The Western Pacific island hosts important US military bases, including the Anderson Air Force Base, where strategic bombers are stationed. (end) mk.gta