North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches ballistic missile launch (archive)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches ballistic missile launch (archive)Reuters

North Korea said on Monday (local time) it has successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile, Reuters reports, citing North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

According to the announcement, the test was meant to confirm the reliability of the late-stage guidance of the nuclear warhead.

KCNA further said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test, which also verified the functioning of the solid-fuel engine for the Pukguksong-2 missile fired from a mobile launcher.

The test marks the latest provocation from North Korea, which has continued to carry out nuclear and ballistic missile tests despite being sanctioned by the UN.

North Korea previously conducted a latest ballistic missile test a week ago, and later claimed it had successfully conducted a mid-to-long range missile test, which was aimed at verifying the capability to carry a "large scale heavy nuclear warhead".

Two weeks earlier, Pyongyang carried out a ballistic missile test which appeared to have failed.

On April 16, North Korea attempted to launch a missile - but it blew up in the sea. Experts claim they may also have publicly displayed an ICBM during a parade marking the 105th birthday of North Korea's founder.