N.Korea Tests New Interceptor Missile

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday watched the test of a new surface-to-air interceptor guided weapon system, the official [North] Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.

This was presumed to be a new KN-06 surface-to-air missile the North tested for the first time in April last year. They are launched in threes from a mobile launcher and are presumed to have a range of around 150 km.

Kim was quoted as telling senior officials the system has improved significantly in its capability to detect targets since the last test. "Its target accuracy has also increased and flaws have been overcome completely. The test is successful," he added.

The North has focused on improving the KN-06 because of the poor capabilities of its surface-to-air missiles in intercepting South Korean and U.S. Air Force jets that could strike mobile launcher vehicles and command posts. But it is not capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

Most of the North's current medium- and long-range surface-to-air missile batteries consist of SA-2s, 3s, and 5s, which the Soviet Union developed in the 1960s and 70s.