The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a new-type tactical ballistic missile and an improved strategic cruise missile on Wednesday as the country's top leader called for bolstering the military capability for self-defense when he guided the event, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.

The test fire of the new-type tactical ballistic missile, called Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, was to verify the hitting accuracy at a medium range of 320 kilometers and explosive power of its payload of a 4.5 tonnage super-large conventional warhead, the KCNA said.

The DPRK also test-fired a strategic cruise missile whose performance has been upgraded for its combat use, according to the report.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, said the security situation makes it imperative for the country to bolster its military capability for self-defense, the KCNA said.

The DPRK leader stressed the need to continue to bolster the nuclear force and have the strongest military technical capability and overwhelming offensive capability in the field of conventional weapons, it added.

(Cover: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a new-type tactical ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in DPRK, September 18, 2024. /CFP)