N. Korea says it conducted 'cruise missile super

North Korea conducts what it calls a "cruise missile super-large warhead power test" and test-fires a new-type of anti-aircraft missile Feb. 2, in these photos carried by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korea said Saturday it conducted what it called a "cruise missile super-large warhead power test" after test-firing a new-type of anti-aircraft missile the previous day.

The tests in the Yellow Sea were carried out for the "rapid development of the technologies in various aspects such as function, performance and operation of new-type weapon systems" and were part of "normal activities," the North's Missile Administration said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

It did not give further details, such as how many missiles were launched or how far they flew.

The South Korean military said Friday it detected the launch of several cruise missiles at around 11 a.m. from North Korea's west coast.

It marked the North's fourth cruise missile launch this year.

On Jan. 24, North Korea test-fired a new strategic cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, named Pulhwasal-3-31, for the first time. The country also fired submarine-launched cruise missiles off the east coast Sunday, later saying that they were aslo Pulhwasal-3-31s.

Cruise missiles, powered by jet engines, fly low and are maneuverable, making them harder to detect and intercept.

Hwasal means an "arrow" in Korean, and Pulhwasal means a "fire arrow." (Yonhap)