- Hawaii wildfire tragedy was 'years in the making,' probe says
- Trump sharpens anti-migrant attacks as both candidates visit key states
- Biden, Starmer put off Ukraine missiles decision
- Fujimori 'never asked forgiveness': families of Peru massacre victims
- France's Garcia into Guadalajara semis as Bouzkova withdraws
- Former world No. 1 Osaka announces split with coach
- Pope says Trump, Harris 'against life' as Asia tour ends
- Celebrated ballerina Michaela DePrince dead at 29
- Europe searches for answers after early Solheim Cup drubbing
- Global stocks mostly rise as markets eye likely Fed rate cut
- Alcaraz gives Spain Davis delight as Australia, United States and Germany also qualify
- Biden, Starmer discuss Ukraine missiles as Russia tensions mount
- Brazil judge seizes $3 million from Musk to pay X fines
- No.1 Korda leads USA to 6-2 edge over Europe at Solheim Cup
- Tesla truck fire took 190,000 liters of water to extinguish
- Duplantis basks in 'best-ever' season, not rushing for more exhibitions
- Pope says anti-immigrant Trump and abortion-rights advocate Harris 'against life'
- Livingstone levels T20 series for England against Australia
- Boeing 'ran out of time' on Starliner: astronaut stuck on ISS
- Adeyemi stars as Dortmund beat Heidenheim
- UN official says Sudan IDP women in desperate need of protection
- Unbeaten Duplantis reigns supreme, Alfred dominates Richardson
- Messi set to return after two-month lay off
- Ohio town's schools evacuated amid Trump anti-immigrant drive
- Alfred scorches past Richardson to Diamond League 100m finals win
- Golf superstar Woods undergoes new back surgery
- Australia smash England for 193 in 2nd T20
- Harris, Trump campaign in battlegrounds as migrant row intensifies
- Rare death of UN worker as Israel pursues West Bank operation
- Paulino wins Diamond League 400m, McLaughlin-Levrone coasts in invitational race
- Tagovailoa urged to retire after latest concussion
- Venezuela warns Spain against 'interference' in its affairs
- Pope returns home after epic Asia-Pacific tour
- Justin Timberlake given community service in drunk driving case
- Toronto festival drops Russian war film screenings over threats
- Foreigners among dozens sentenced to death in DR Congo 'coup' trial
- Biden, Starmer meet as Russia warns over missiles for Ukraine
- Title-chasing Norris and McLaren 'a long way' off the pace in Baku
- Strike at Argentina's flagship airline hits 30,000 passengers
- Transport woes leave Solheim Cup fans absent at the start
- Pope returns home after epic four-nation Asia-Pacific tour
- 'Tell everyone I'm home': Ukrainian prisoners rejoice at rare swap
- Justin Timberlake given community service in drunk driving case: US media
- Germany joins pushback to EU anti-deforestation law
- Ohio town's schools evacuated amid Trump anti-immigrant drive: reports
- Pochettino sets USA target of winning the World Cup
- US moves to curb 'trade loophole' over China worries
- Raided West Bank city holds funerals after Israeli army withdraws
- US women seize early 3-1 lead over Europe at Solheim Cup
- Sinaloa cartel co-founder 'El Mayo' pleads not guilty in NY court
North Korea test-fires rocket launcher with new 'guiding system'
North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of a 240mm multiple rocket launcher equipped with a new "guiding system", state media said Wednesday, as Pyongyang continues to upgrade its arsenal.
The announcement comes about three months after North Korea said it would equip its military with a "new" 240mm multiple rocket launcher known to be capable of striking Seoul and nearby areas.
The isolated, nuclear-armed country has recently bolstered military ties with Moscow, and analysts have said the North could be testing and ramping up production of artillery and cruise missiles before sending them to Russia for use in Ukraine.
The United States and Seoul have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition and missiles for Russia's war effort, a claim Pyongyang has called "absurd".
The multiple rocket launcher, "technically updated in its maneuverability and concentrated firing capability, was proved to be advantageous in all indices," Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday.
Updates included "newly applied guiding system, controllability and destructive power," it said.
At the test-firing, Kim also "set forth an important policy to be pursued in producing new artillery pieces and equipping army units with them," it added without providing details.
The Wednesday report came just two days after the North unveiled a "suicide drone", unmanned aircraft designed to be deliberately crashed into enemy targets, effectively acting as guided missiles.
The North said in February it had developed a new control system for a multiple rocket launcher that would lead to a "qualitative change" in its defence capabilities.
In May, it said the updated rocket launcher would be "deployed to units of the Korean People's Army as replacement equipment from 2024 to 2026".
Inter-Korean relations are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring South Korea its "principal enemy".
It has shuttered agencies dedicated to reunification and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.
The test-firing came as South Korea and the United States have been carrying out major annual joint military drills, which run until Thursday, with new exercises aimed at containing the nuclear-armed North.
North Korea -- which attacked its neighbour in 1950, triggering the Korean War -- has always been infuriated by joint US-South Korean military exercises, decrying them as rehearsals for invasion.
K.Thomson--BTB