The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) tested a new rocket launch system on Friday under its top leader Kim Jong Un's supervision, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Saturday. 

The "newly-developed large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system" was test-fired in the early hours of Friday, aiming to examine its capabilities, such as flight performance, track control ability and rate of hits, according to the KCNA. 

Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the result of the test-fire," it said. 

It was the third launch of such short-range projectiles in about a week.

Read more:

Seoul: DPRK launches two short-range ballistic missiles

Wang Yi says China welcomes U.S. to resume working-level dialogue with DPRK

The DPRK does not appear ready for the resumption of its working-level nuclear talks with the United States, Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday, citing a senior official from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"After all, it appears that the North (DPRK) is not ready (for talks)," the official told reporters on the sidelines of annual multilateral meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Its system does not seem to be one under which they can juggle as many issues as our foreign ministry does. It appears to be focusing on preparations for the working-level negotiations, but there could be an assessment that their preparations are not sufficient yet," she added.

The ASEAN meetings in Bangkok this week were expected to set the stage for talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. But Ri canceled his trip to the Thai capital for unspecified reasons.

Commenting on the intentions behind Pyongyang's projectile launches, the official raised the possibility that they could be aimed at enhancing its missile technology before the negotiations start, which would make it difficult to conduct such tests.

Despite the recent tests by Pyongyang, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was sure the DPRK leader did not want to disappoint him.

In an apparent reference to Kim's pledge not to resume testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear bombs frozen since 2017, Trump said on Twitter: "Chairman Kim does not want to disappoint me with a violation of trust."  

"There is far too much for North Korea (DPRK) to gain – the potential as a country, under Kim Jong Un's leadership, is unlimited. Also, there is far too much to lose," said Trump.

Stressing the personal rapport he says he has built with Kim in three meetings since June last year, Trump said: "He will do the right thing because he is far too smart not to, and he does not want to disappoint his friend, President Trump!" 

Meanwhile, China has urged Washington and Pyongyang to meet each other halfway, accommodate each other's concerns, and formulate a feasible roadmap as soon as possible. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for resolving the Korean Peninsula issue politically by following a "phased approach with synchronized steps."

(Cover: DPRK leader Kim Jong Un smiles with military officers in front of a screen believed to show projectile launch in an unidentified location in the DPRK, in this still image taken from video provided by KCNA, August 3, 2019. /Reuters Photo)